Topic outline

  • Your questions answered

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    • Answers to some of the most frequently asked questions can be found below.
       
      If your question isn't answered please email us at
      schools@christian-aid.org.

  • Cost

    • How much does it cost?

      The cost of Global Neighbours for schools in England depends on the size of your school:

      Size of school Cost
         
      Fewer than 100 pupils on roll £150
      One-form entry with 100 or more on roll. £250
      Two-form entry or more £350
      Secondary schools £400

      For details of costs in Scotland and Wales please get in touch.

    • When do we have to pay?

      You pay at the start of your course.
      Once you have registered you will be able to enroll yourself in a Global Neighbours course. Different courses will have different start dates throughout the year, but numbers are limited. Once you have enrolled you will need to pay to unlock the course content.

    • How do we pay?

      Payment is made by credit or debit card.

    • What if we are unsuccessful?

      Payment still applies regardless of whether or not you are successful, however the process of training, self-evaluation carefully following the course guidance and separate advice on how to prepare for an assessor’s visit should minimise the likelihood a school not being awarded. If a school is not meeting the criteria, a grace period will be given to allow any necessary changes to be made. Furthermore, in the case of an unsuccessful application for a Gold or Silver award, the assessor may recommend a lower level award (or if the school already has the lower level award, extend it for a further three-year period). 

  • Training

    • What training is provided?

      Participants will follow a 12 month course which will guide them towards Global Neighbours accreditation for their school. The course will cover issues including courageous advocacy, anti-racism, political impartiality and more. Participants will be expected to engage with various pieces of reading, audio and video clips, and to discuss these with others on discussion forums.

      Training will also include a series of five webinars led by our expert team, delivered via Microsoft teams.

    • How often does training run?

      A new course starts each term, but please be aware that places are limited.

    • What training is available this academic year?

      We are currently offering the following training courses starting this academic year:

      • Autumn start: September 2025 - July 2026
      • Spring start: January 2026 - December 2026
      • Summer start: April 2026 - March 2027

  • Eligibility

    • Is Global Neighbours only for Primary schools?

      No, there is now a version of the scheme for secondary schools. 

    • Is the scheme only for schools in England?

      No, Global Neighbours is now open to schools in Wales and Scotland too!

  • Schools that started before autumn 2024

    • We started Global Neighbours before autumn 2024. Can we still submit our old self-evaluation form?

      We are no longer accepting applications using the old-style form. If you have any questions please get in touch on gnadmin@christian-aid.org.

  • Accreditation

    • What are the criteria we need to meet?

      The Global Neighbours criteria cover five areas:

      • Leadership, Vision & Values
      • Teaching & Learning
      • Collective Worship & Spiritual Development (England & Wales) / Collective Reflection & Values Development (Scotland)
      • Pupil Participation in Active Global Citizenship
      • Community Engagement

      You can find more detail in the Global Neighbours handbook:

      Please note: the handbook was written before the new online course, please disregard details about how to apply.

    • How do we apply for accreditation?

      Once you have registered you will be able to create an online learning account and enrol on a training cohort. Global Neighbours training takes 12 months, during which you will be guided through the process of applying for accreditation. Applying for accreditation is done by submitting evidence via an online form of how you are meeting the Global Neighbours criteria.

    • How does assessment work?

      Our team of independent assessors will review your application against the Global Neighbours criteria. For schools applying for a bronze award, the assessor will arrange to speak to you on the phone. For silver and gold applications the assessor will spend half a day in school.

    • What will an assessor visit involve for silver and gold applications? 

      An assessor will visit the school for half a day at an agreed time.  The assessor will review evidence provided by the school in a variety of forms and meet with relevant staff and pupils and other members of the local community as appropriate about their experiences, plans and learning.  Full details on how to prepare for a visit will be sent on receipt of an application for an award.  

    • What will we receive if we are successful? 

      Every accredited school will receive a certificate of accreditation and a license to use the Global Neighbours award logo on school publications and letterheads.  Accredited schools will also receive guidance and resources to help share their success and learning, for example through local media.  

    • How long does accreditation last? 

      The Bronze, Silver and Gold awards will all expire at the end of the third full school year following the date of the award.  To put it another way, a new award period opens in September each year and runs for the remainder of that school year and the following three years. Therefore, each award will need renewing between three and four school years from the date of the award, depending upon the stage reached in the school year when the award was made. For example, an award made in April 2025 will be due for renewal in August 2028.  You will receive details on how to apply for renewal near the time when your award will expire.  

    • How do you assure quality, consistency and fairness in the accreditation process? 

      There is a rigorous process to appoint assessors, followed by programme of ongoing training and annual reviews for all assessors. 

  • Links to other schemes

    • We have already done a lot of work to support global citizenship across the curriculum, with the support of other programmes and organisations. Will this count towards accreditation? 

      Yes, in so far that it helps demonstrate your school’s fulfilment of the accreditation criteria and is work that is currently being implemented in your school.  

    • How does this scheme relate to, and differ from, other accreditation schemes around global learning and sustainable development (e.g. Eco-Schools, Rights Respecting Schools)? 

      The specific focus of this scheme is on the provision of opportunities for pupils to develop their understanding of global justice issues and become agents of change. In common with many other schemes, the scheme encourages schools to develop global citizenship through multiple areas of the curriculum but it is distinctive in the place given to Religious Education and courageous advocacy. For church schools, its distinctiveness also lies in its capacity to help church schools relate its work on global citizenship to their Christian character and the framework for the Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS). In so far that your school’s participation in other schemes supports the accreditation criteria, they can be used in support of an application for a Global Neighbours School Award.  

    • Can a school be accredited without supporting Christian Aid? 

      Yes, but we hope you will find the opportunities provided by Christian Aid for pupils to raise awareness, voices and money helpful.  

  • Support, resources and partnerships

    • Can our school continue to get support and resources from Christian Aid even if we choose not to go for accreditation?

      Yes, of course. Our teaching and learning resources are freely available to all schools on our website.

    • Can we work with other schools in my area, diocese or multi-academy trust? 

      Yes – in fact we would strongly encourage schools to share the journey to Global Neighbours accreditation with other schools with which they have close relationships.  

    • Does Christian Aid provide support for international school-linking? 

      We are not able to link schools in Britain with schools elsewhere in the world but there are many other organisations and schemes that do. See the ‘Further Resources and Support’ section of the Global Neighbours handbook.

  • Getting in touch