School exchange scheme centre of post-Brexit plans

Gavin Williamson has claimed that a school exchange scheme is being extended as part of plans for Britain's outward-looking education ambitions after the UK leaves the EU.

The Education Secretary spoke to the Education World Forum about a ‘post-Brexit education revolution’, and confirmed a one-year extension to a £2.5 million school exchange programme which allows children from disadvantaged backgrounds to experience other countries, cultures and improve language skills.

Williamson said: “The UK has always been an outward-looking and global nation, with a proud history and record when it comes to education and innovation. Just over a week from now, the UK will leave the EU. This is the perfect opportunity to march forward and be the global leader in educating children, young people and adults. Make no mistake, I want the UK to be the best place in the world to educate your child and make the most of people’s talents.

“As we step out into the world, our doors are open and our ambitions are bold. We will continue to learn from those countries excelling in areas like maths and will share with others the lessons we have learned. We will place a bigger focus on further and technical education and will continue to welcome hundreds of thousands of the best and brightest international students to our world-class universities. Achieving this comes by working in partnership with the rest of the world and that will not change. With world leading universities and one of the best school systems in the world, we are and will continue to be a global leader in education.”