What is the Turing Scheme?
The Turing Scheme is the UK Government’s funding programme to provide global opportunities in education and training for British citizens and is open for registrations now from schools, colleges and universities. The programme guidance for the 2023-24 funding is now available and the call for applications is due to open soon for visits taking place up to August 2024.
Click here to download the programme guidance
Support for Newcastle schools and colleges
International Newcastle and Newcastle City Council (Education, School Effectiveness) provide support to schools who are interested in applying to the Turing Scheme. We provide briefings and webinars on the scheme, can help with finding schools links in other countries and also provide one to one support to complete the application form.
It is likely that when the call for applications opens, there will be a tight timescale to apply and we are offering support to schools now to develop or enhance their international links and to provide practical support to prepare applications to the scheme.
Join the briefing session at 4.00-5.30pm on 2nd February 2023 in the Collingwood Suite at Newcastle Civic Centre. This is for all Newcastle schools interested applying to the Turing Scheme in 2023. We will discuss the 2023-24 programme and requirements, as well as share learning from schools who have received Turing funding for visits in 2022 and 2023.
You can sign up on either the Services to Schools page Turing funding 2023/2024 | Services to Schools if you have access, or contact Sarah Edgar at sarah.edgar@newcastle.gov.uk to book a place.
We were successful in supporting 10 schools to access a total of £400,00 in 2021 and a further 5 schools to get funding in 2022 for visits abroad. Reports from the visits have been incredibly positive.
What does Turing Scheme support?
Eligible visits are school visits to partner schools anywhere in the world (except British Overseas Territories) where pupils work together on joint projects. These projects can be language, humanities or science based. They can involve drama, sport, music or be centred around pupil health and well-being. This list is not exhaustive.
The key is that the visit allows our young people to engage with and work alongside their peers. The visits should not be tourist/cultural visits only, attendance at music festival or sports competitions or attendance at multinational conferences. The visits should be part of a wider relationship and activities between the partner schools.
- Both primary and secondary pupils can take part in these visits
- Visits must last for a minimum of 3 days in the partner country
- Funding is available for pupils and staff to stay in residential accommodation
- Funding is available for pre-visits for staff to check the arrangements and carry out risk assessments
- Additional funding can be requested for pupils with additional needs or for pupils from particularly disadvantaged backgrounds (this could include for passports, vaccination and other additional expenses such as clothes etc). There is also funding for additional costs relating to SEND pupils.
We know how valuable this grant will be to many of our families as it would enable some of our learners to access opportunities which may be unavailable to them because of family circumstances. Please note that there is no funding for overseas schools to visit the UK as part of this scheme.
Why get involved in Turing?
Schools can benefit enormously from developing international links and it can be life-changing for pupils:
- opening up new perspectives, projects and dialogues
- enhancing the curriculum across the board
- building invaluable international connections
- strengthening intercultural awareness for staff and pupils
- supporting language learning and teaching (where this is an element of the international partnership)
- raising aspirations and building the confidence of pupils
- helping pupils to make positive education and life choices and impacting on future career opportunities
Another important factor is that the Turing Scheme provides additional funding to support pupils and schools in areas of higher levels of disadvantage to overcome the financial barriers to be able to engage in the activity.
Many of the schools and the pupils involved, will not have had an international connections before and these pupils may never have had the opportunity to engage with pupils from other schools internationally or to go on school visits abroad.