British Council English Assessment

📢 Webinar | Co-creating an evaluation rubric for plurilingual children ‘How do we assess what standardised tests can’t see? In linguistically diverse classrooms, a child’s true knowledge and skills are often hidden—shaped by family and friends’ stories, cultural traditions, and the languages spoken at home. Standard, single-language assessments rarely capture this complexity. That’s why we need a new model. Join us tomorrow for a webinar featuring researchers Janine Knight and Marta Segura, who partnered with a Catalan primary school to do just that. They moved beyond top-down evaluation to co-create a plurilingual and intercultural competence rubric with the people it serves: teachers, children, and their families. In this session, you’ll learn: ✅ how to bring teachers, children, and parents together as equal partners ✅ practical ways to turn broad CEFR descriptors into child-friendly criteria ✅ strategies for making assessment accessible for all families ✅ key research findings on valuing a child’s full linguistic repertoire Don’t miss this chance to see what’s possible when we trust the expertise of our entire school community. 📅 Wednesday 20 May | 12.00PM UK time 👉 Register here: https://ow.ly/1YGY50YZv0A #WorkplaceCommunication #LanguageAssessment #HigherEducation #BritishCouncil #PlurilingualEducation #InclusiveAssessment #EdWebinar

🗣️ Do you have an accent? Perhaps you think you don't. But our expert doesn't agree... Watch the video to find out why 👇 But don't worry - we think accents are beautiful! Find out more: https://ow.ly/O0Yv50YYSpT #SpeakingSkills #EnglishCommunication #AccentMyth #EnglishLearning #BritishCouncil

English sounds different everywhere. And that’s exactly the point. There is no hierarchy of accents, or of varieties of spoken language. Every generation reshapes English in its own way. Explore how English is spoken across the UK and around the world: https://lnkd.in/g8Pbr9t5 #EnglishLanguage #EnglishAccents #GlobalEnglish #EnglishLearning #BritishCouncil

How can school leaders move from initial AI concepts to practical classroom application? Successful integration isn't just about selecting the right tools; it’s about leading a purpose-driven shift in culture and policy. Our latest guide identifies seven strategic recommendations to help school leaders navigate this transition responsibly. By focusing on the 'why' and 'how' before the 'what', we can ensure that technology serves our core mission of pedagogical excellence. Discover how to implement these strategies in your institution by clicking the link below. https://lnkd.in/e8ygjXgV #FutureOfEnglish #SchoolLeadership #AIStrategy #BritishCouncil

Will AI replace teachers? Our research suggests a different future: one where AI handles routine administrative tasks so that educators can dedicate more time to their students. In the evolving classroom reality, we are seeing a significant shift in focus. While AI is increasingly used for routine grading and drafting materials, it cannot replicate the essential human elements of great teaching. As AI takes on the 'what', the teacher’s role becomes even more focused on the 'who'. By acting as a supportive tool to augment human capability, AI allows educators to double down on their unique strengths in fostering collaboration and providing emotional support. Explore the practical recommendations for redefining the teacher's role in our full guide below. https://lnkd.in/e8ygjXgV #FutureOfEnglish #LanguageLearning #BritishCouncil

How can we ensure that AI adoption remains ethical, fair, and accountable? As generative AI continues to reshape the educational landscape, leadership must move beyond technical implementation to focus on three core pillars of responsibility: ethics and accountability, inclusion and accessibility and transparency and explainability. A human-centred approach views AI as a collaborator, not a teacher. By grounding your strategy in these three pillars, you can ensure that technology serves your institution's core mission of pedagogical excellence. Discover practical recommendations for ethical leadership in the age of AI. See our full guide below. https://lnkd.in/e8ygjXgV #FutureOfEnglish #SchoolLeadership #InclusiveEducation #BritishCouncil

As AI tools accelerate in schools worldwide, the challenge for school leaders is not just adopting new technology, but leading change responsibly. To ensure that technology serves your strategy, rather than dictating it. We recommend a purpose-driven approach to integration. Our latest guide outlines a clear, sequential path for successful AI implementation: Why (Vision) → How (Framework) → What (Tools). Defining your strategy in this order prevents premature investment in tools that may not align with your core mission or institutional values. By focusing on leadership and pedagogical framing over technical jargon, we can ensure that innovation remains truly human-centred. Learn how to implement this strategic model in your institution. See our full guide below. https://lnkd.in/e8ygjXgV #FutureOfEnglish #SchoolLeadership #AIinEducation #BritishCouncil

The evolution of AI has reshaped how we approach language learning, presenting educators with a complex new landscape to navigate. Our guide highlights a critical paradox in this new landscape. While AI offers unprecedented opportunities for personalised learning pathways and assessment innovation, it also introduces systemic challenges from algorithmic bias to digital inequality. Learn how to navigate the evolving AI landscape in our latest insights guide: 'AI in language learning: Lessons for school leaders.' https://lnkd.in/e8ygjXgV #FutureOfEnglish #SchoolLeadership #LanguageEducation #BritishCouncil

76% of teachers are already using AI tools in their work, yet only 20% feel they have the training required to use them effectively. This statistic highlights a significant gap for school leaders to navigate. While the adoption of AI is moving at pace, there is an urgent need for professional development to ensure its use remains ethical and pedagogically sound. Supporting educators isn’t merely about providing access to new software, it’s about fostering the confidence and fluency to lead in a digital-first classroom. How is your school bridging the gap between AI usage and AI expertise? Explore our new guide on integrating AI in language learning below. https://lnkd.in/e8ygjXgV #FutureOfEnglish #SchoolLeadership #AIinEducation #TeacherDevelopment #BritishCouncil

📢 Webinar | Accessibility & Accommodations in Language Assessment As the final part of a three-part webinar series on embedding accessibility in language assessment and classroom practice, this session explores the distinction between built-in accessibility features and test accommodations — and why both are essential for creating more equitable assessment systems. As more students with diverse learning needs take language proficiency tests, it is vital that assessment design removes unfair barriers. We will move beyond "check-box" compliance to look at the "stories" behind the data—examining British Council policies, identifying which tools actually work, and discussing how the lived experiences of learners can shape a more inclusive future for assessment. We will cover topics such as: • The distinctions between accommodations, adjustments and modifications, and where bias can enter the decision-making process. • Research-based insights into how arrangements like read-aloud and spell-check benefit test-takers. • Strategies for identifying "effective" accommodations that ensure sensory and cognitive access without compromising the test’s purpose. 🗣️Speakers • Damon Young, Researcher for JEDI, British Council • Judit Kormos, Professor of Second Language Acquisition, Lancaster University 🕣Wednesday 18 February 2026 | 13:00 UK time 👉Register here: https://lnkd.in/emEPAmaH #Accessibility #InclusiveAssessment #LanguageTesting #BritishCouncil