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Inter-Action - Recruitment campaign 2008-2009
Partnerships between English Specialist Schools and French schools with Sections Européennes

What is the Inter-Action programme?

The Inter-Action programme was set up between France and England at the beginning of the school year 2001, further to a number of education agreements signed by the French and English authorities. The program pairs English Specialist Schools with French schools with sections européennes.

In September 2003, the Centre international d'études pédagogiques (CIEP) in France and the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) in England were set the task of managing the Inter-Action programme. The DGESCO and IGEN are associated with steering the programme.

English schools may obtain further details of the programme by visiting the SSAT website: www.inter-action.eu

Who can join the programme?

• In England (Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland are not concerned by the Inter-Action programme): until 2007, the programme, formerly known as "LC-SE" was only aimed in England at Language Colleges.Now, however, recruitment of English schools takes in other types of Specialist School, which are schools specialising in one or more specialisms like languages, sport, science, engineering or the arts.
• In France: secondary schools with an English section européenne.

What are the basic objectives of the programme?

The Inter-Action programme allows selected schools to find a partner. English and French classes involved in the programme make extensive use of remote communication methods (email, blogs, websites, video conferencing) to work together on a partnership project, drawing not only on language skills but also on other subjects and the use of ICT.
An annual conference is organised every year for the coordinators of selected schools to meet up and learn more about the programme. Attendance is compulsory for all selected schools.
The conference is generally held in January or February, alternately in London and Sèvres (where the CIEP is headquartered). It provides an opportunity for partners to get to know one another and lay the foundations of a joint project. Advice and concrete examples of long-distance projects can be found on the Emilangues website under "International"

Objectives of programme for pupils

• communicate using the partner's language and gain a better grasp of certain aspects of his/her culture,
• work together on a joint project in a foreign language,
• acquire and invest ICT skills.

Objectives of programme for teaching staff

• develop educational methods for long-distance projects and exchange work,
• foster cross-disciplinary and intercultural exchange,
• develop ICT skills and enjoy the benefit of the many novel educational methods that they can promote.

Objectives of programme for schools

• acquire or enhance international profile through a long-lasting partnership,
• reinforce the position of the section européenne within the "school plan" (projet d'établissement).

The Inter-Action programme favours multi-disciplinary teaching teams who are prepared to set up long-distance exchange projects, based on the use of ICT and commitment from the school as a whole.
That means that the programme makes no provisionFor further details concerning financial support, go to: www.emilangues.education.fr/CMS/Site/Template/T1/T1.aspx?SELECTID=301&ID=245 for funding pupil exchange visits.

What are the selection criteria for joining the Inter-Action programme?

• the school must have enough computer hardware available as well as the required ICTE skills among its teaching staff,
• a genuine multi-disciplinary team devoted to the pairing project,
• the school's requirements must be flexible enough to adapt to its partner's needs,
• the project must have the whole school behind it (it must be part of the "school plan", it must be renewed each year regardless of any changes in the people involved and every effort must be made to get other classes to take part in the project, particularly the youngest).

How to apply

Applications may be sent in from 2 September to 14 November 2008
Schools wishing to apply must register online on: www.web-interaction.net. The project coordinator must carefully complete the Inter-Action programme application form. A separate application form must be completed for each project. Consequently, if a collège, LGT and lycée professionnel forming part of a single school wish to take part in the programme, three separate application forms must be completed.
The school's application will not be given final approval until the CIEP has received the hardcopy version of the form duly signed by the headteacher. All applications must be at the CIEP by 14 November 2008.
For information: the délégué académique aux relations européennes, internationales et à la coopération (DAREIC) will automatically receive an electronic copy of all applications concerning its region and is requested to send an opinion to the programme Selection and Matching Committee.

Applicants will be selected mid-December 2008
Publication of selection results.

Annual conference in London – 5-6 February 2009
A conference will be held in London on 5 and 6 February 2009 allowing partners to meet and start work together. All schools applying to join the programme make an undertaking to attend this conference. The CIEP will pay for the meals and accommodation of one representative per selected school, but the school is responsible for paying travelling expenses.

Applicants are asked to set up a genuine project involving the use of ICT as part of their partnership activities.
The school does not, however, need to submit a precise project at the time of application. This can be done with the partners in February. 

For any further information you might require concerning the programme or the online registration procedure, please contact the programme manager at the CIEP:
Claire Jacquey, Tel. : 01 45 07 69 45, Email