What is the Global Learning Programme–Wales?

Today’s children and young people are growing up in an uncertain and rapidly changing world. Shifting global powers, a globalised economy and global challenges like climate change and poverty mean they will be faced with difficult choices in their lives; choices that will have repercussions for them and the rest of humanity.

The Global Learning Programme-Wales (GLP-W) aims to help schools prepare children and young people for this changing world by supporting teachers to better understand global issues and feel more confident in delivering global learning to their pupils.

Global learning provides:

  • a means of enriching the present curriculum by taking new approaches to teaching and learning
  • support for the implementation of Successful Futures, in particular developing learners as ‘ethical informed citizens of Wales and the world’
  • real life contexts for the development of literacy and numeracy skills
  • an approach to classroom and whole school activity which helps embed Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship(ESDGC)

GLP-W is designed to support schools in embedding good practice in global learning through the creation of school networks focussed on sharing practice and ideas, supported by access to high quality training and resources.

This e-Handbook describes the benefits of global learning and explainshow joining the GLP-W can help you to build on your present practice.

Why is global learning important in Wales?

Global learning has a strong tradition in Wales. It builds upon ESDGC and the Curriculum Cymreig which fosters an understanding of an outward looking and international Wales, and is also an integral part of the Welsh Baccalaureate’s compulsory Global Citizenship Challenge. The GLP-W also supports schools in considering the Welsh Government’s Well-being of Future Generations Act 2015, in particular the goal of developing a globally responsible Wales.

Crucially global learning is also at the heart of the new curriculum in Wales; one of the four statutory purposes is to develop children and young people as ‘ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world.’

The GLP-W supports schools to use global learning to address the everyday requirements of teaching, learning and school improvement as outlined below.

The relationship between the GLP-W, the Estyn Common Inspection Framework, curriculum and the Literacy and Numeracy Framework is explained further in the appendix.

Why get involved?

Good reasons to engage with global learning through the GLP-W include:

  • supporting school improvement. A report on global learning in secondary schools found that it created a ‘sense of common direction and responsibility, with increased cross-curricular collaboration and increased usage of current world events and issues’ amongst teachers[1]. Additionally, a study in Wales found that global learning made a positive contribution towards the development of the school ethos and supported schools to work more closely with their local communities[2].
  • inspiringyour pupils.Evidence suggests that pupils who engage with global learning find lessons more motivating and enjoy learning about how their work connects to the world beyond the classroom. This can support wider learning as well as critical thinking skills.
  • supporting your teachers. Teachers who adopt global learning find it motivating and inspirational, supporting the development of their practice and their ability to create lively and engaging lessons. According to research more than 8 out of 10 teachers believe that it is important for schools to help young people become responsible global citizens[3].

What are the aims of GLP-W?

The GLP-W is a whole-school programme, supporting schools to embed global learning through a wide range of experiences both within the curriculum and the wider life of the school.It is not confined to a single subject, the occasional assembly or theme day but aims to:

  • help children and young people understand their role in a globally interdependent world and explore ways by which they can make it more just and sustainable
  • familiarise pupils with the concepts of interdependence, development and globalisation
  • stimulate critical thinking about global issues, both at a whole school and pupil level
  • help schools promote greater awareness of global povertyand how it can be reduced
  • enable teachers to explore new and alternative ways of teaching about development and sustainability in the classroom.

What support is available?

The GLP-W will support you in embedding global learning by offering you:

  • the opportunity to join your localGLP-W school network and benefit from the termly network meetings.
  • support from your GLP-W Lead School.Lead Schools have experience in global learning and provide peer-led practice-sharing sessions as well as hosting training from outside providers for their network schools.
  • practical support and advice
  • an onlineGlobal Learning Self Evaluation (GLSE)to help you to assess your school’s current practice in global learning and identify Next Steps for development.
  • the GLP-W websitewhere you can download free online bilingual resourcesto support global learning organised in themes and subject areas, find out about events and keep up-to-date with our termly newsletter
  • opportunities for staff professional development:
  • support in leading a global learning whole school initiative
  • practice-sharing events
  • CPD from GLP-W approved providers to equip your staff with the curriculum knowledge, pedagogy and leadership skills needed to lead change in your school
  • Lead Practitioner Accreditation for the GLP-W Coordinator in Lead Schools

What are the benefits for pupils?

A focus on global learning helps pupils to:

  • develop literacy and numeracy skills in an authentic context
  • become reflective and develop critical thinking skills
  • respect and value diversity
  • question viewpoints and perspectives
  • challenge stereotypes
  • learn about why there are inequalities in the world
  • take part in discussions on global issues
  • learn about the social, economic, environmental, cultural and political impact of globalisation
  • explore their own values and how they impact on others
  • listen to, understand and respect different views
  • understand the different ways of achieving global poverty reduction
  • develop tolerance and understanding of different religions and cultures

What are the benefits forteachers?

Key benefits of participating in a GLP-W school network include:

  • opportunities to work with colleagues in other schools to share best practice and integrate global learning across the curriculum
  • practical support from your local Lead School at regular network meetings
  • access to online resources to support classroom teaching and whole-school global learning
  • opportunities for teachersin lead schools to become accredited GLP-W Lead Practitioners

What are the benefits forschools?

The following quotations are from Lead and Network Schools participating in the GLP-W

Example 1 – Stanwell School, Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan

“Global Learning (GL) is essential in the Twenty First Century as our young people are operating in a multi-cultural, increasingly diverse international community where tolerance, understanding and empathy are essential if they are to behave responsibly and make a full contribution.”

“GL has ensured pupils are both conscious of global developments, tolerant of cultural and racial diversity and focused on their local, national and individual contribution to it. Pupils’ ambitions are high and they have a positive attitude toward travel, economic migration and religious tolerance”

Example 2 – Ysgol Emmanuel, Rhyl, Denbighshire

“Being able to engage pupils with real life issues, the pupils are passionate and motivated. It has enabled them to develop their questioning, and be able to think critically, creatively and independently. Pupils’ engagement and a holistic schools approach to GL has helped to develop key skills in Literacy and Numeracy,supporting their academic achievement and raising the overall school standards and effectiveness.”

Example 3 – St Andrew’s Primary School

‘We have benefited from sharing ideas about global learning with teachers from other network schools, both in meetings and via a shared Twitter account which is an increasingly well used way of sharing examples, useful web links and teaching resources.’

Example 4 – Lewis Girls School

"This is an exciting PLC which has motivated us to appoint a new ESDGC co-ordinator. He has found the network meetings to be very useful and beneficial in aiding him to audit global learning across the curriculum and to share the good practice from the GLP-W network with colleagues in staff training sessions".

How to join the GLP-W?

Becoming part of the GLP-W is very straight forward. The first steps are to:

  1. Register your school on the GLP-W website.
  2. Find your nearest Lead School and contact the GLP-W coordinator to join their network.
  3. Complete the online Global Learning Self Evaluationto identify current strengths and areas for development.The GLSE will provide you with suggested Next Steps.
  4. Explore the GLP-W website, which offers extensive resources and curriculum guidance.

For more information contact: r call the GLP-W Helpline on02920 660115.

Getting the best out of GLP-W in your school

  • give global learning a high profile
  • involve pupils and give them a voice in all stages of your global learning journey
  • provide opportunities for your GLP-W coordinator to share effective practice and deliver training at Inset days, staff meetings and with governors following network meetings
  • include global learning in schemes of work and school development plan and update your ESDGC policy
  • work with and include your local community
  • Don’t get overwhelmed, look at where you are now and plan small steps

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[1] Edge, K, Khamsi, K and Bourn, D (2009), Exploring the Global Dimension in Secondary Schools: Final Research Report. London: IOE

[2] Nicholas, J, Pollard, M, Smith, R and Thomas, S (2010), Assessing the International Dimension in Education in Wales: Phase II. Final Report. Slough. NFER

[3]Think Global (2013) Bridging The Global Skills Gap: Teachers’ views on how to prepare a Global Generation for the challenges ahead. A YouGov Research Study