Since 2020, the British Council and the Central Board of Secondary Education have partnered to support education reform across India. Together, we are strengthening teaching, learning and assessment practices in schools, aligned with the vision of the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023.

This partnership supports schools and educators to deliver more learner-centred, inclusive and future-ready education by strengthening leadership development, assessment reform, teacher professional development, research and national advocacy.

In January 2023, the British Council and CBSE signed a renewed five-year Memorandum of Understanding (2023–2028), building on the success of earlier collaboration and expanding the partnership's focus on experiential learning, assessment reform, leadership development, climate and environmental education, research and advocacy. The partnership combines global expertise with local priorities to support system-wide improvements in teaching, learning and assessment across CBSE schools.

To find out more about the key areas of collaboration, check out the below sections.

Teacher and school leader development is a central pillar of the partnership. Professional learning programmes support educators to strengthen inclusive classroom practices, develop core skills and adopt approaches that promote deeper learning and student engagement.

Leadership development programmes, delivered in collaboration with leading UK institutions, strengthen educational leadership and system-level capacity for reform.

The partnership supports CBSE’s efforts to strengthen competency-based assessment and improve learning outcomes.

This includes work on strengthening assessment frameworks, developing learning progressions and evidence-based assessment criteria, and building the capacity of educators and Master Trainers to support implementation at scale. The aim is to support more meaningful assessment practices that better reflect learner progress and align with national education reforms.

Assessment Framework Review (University of Lincoln)

 Working with the University of Lincoln, UK, as part of the project, aimed to enhance competency-based teaching, learning, and assessment in Science for Grades 6 to 12, in alignment with the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023.  The initiative ran from March 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026. The project included reviewing current assessment practices, aligning them with scientific inquiry strands, defining clear and progressive learning ladders/rubrics, and establishing robust evidence-based assessment criteria. It also involved developing modular, device-friendly online training resources and delivering Master Trainer (MT) training to 100 MTs, with virtual supervision of cascading training to 400 teachers across India. The University of Lincoln is currently working on reviewing and refining the internal assessment framework, evaluating current practices and research evidence, defining assessment objectives, and designing assessment methods. 

Research and evidence-building play an important role in shaping the partnership's future direction.  The partnership undertakes research, impact studies, and knowledge-sharing initiatives to strengthen understanding of teaching and learning practices, inform policy and programme development, and support the scale-up of evidence-based approaches.

This work helps ensure that reforms are informed by robust evidence and responsive to the evolving needs of schools, educators, and learners.

The partnership provides opportunities for senior education leaders to engage with international perspectives and strengthen leadership practice.

These programmes support leadership development in areas such as educational leadership and governance, curriculum design and implementation, assessment reform, inclusive education, and sustainability in education.

Delivered in collaboration with UK institutions, they combine professional learning and international exchange to support leadership for educational change.

CPD programme (University of Bath)

Commissioned to the Centre for Research in Education in Asia (CREA) at the University of Bath, this blended continuing professional development (CPD) programme was designed to strengthen leadership capacity in navigating systemic education reforms. The programme engaged 17 senior educational leaders and policy implementers from CBSE, Kendriya Vidyalayas, and Navodaya Vidyalayas through a combination of virtual sessions and a residential immersion. Delivered between March 2021 and March 2022, it included eight interactive online modules on themes such as transformational leadership, culturally responsive leadership, social justice in education, education and mobility in South Asia, and language-in-education policy. The programme culminated in a 5-day residential in Bath, UK, (March 2022) featuring school visits, cultural immersion, and expert-led sessions by leading UK academics. Participants developed group-based action research projects to apply learning in their own contexts, and all were awarded CPD certificates issued by the University of Bath. The programme has paved the way for future collaboration in the areas of leadership, assessment, teacher development, and education policy.

Leadership Development Programme (University of Birmingham)

Commissioned to the University of Birmingham’s Education Leadership Academy, the Leadership Development Programme aimed at strengthening school leadership and supporting education reform in India. The programme engaged 30 senior CBSE officials and school leaders through a blend of virtual and in-person training. It began with six interactive online sessions (Nov 2024–Feb 2025) covering key themes such as educational leadership, inclusive education, assessment, sustainability, and governance, led by renowned UK experts. The programme culminated in a 6-day residential training in Birmingham (May 2025), featuring school visits and discussions with Ofsted inspectors and local education leaders. Participants  presented capstone reflections and a post-programme report outlining outcomes and future strategies for impact in India.

Leadership Programme (Alpha Plus UK)

This was 60-hour Continuing Professional Development initiative designed by Alpha Plus UK to strengthen policy and practice in assessment, curriculum design, and pedagogy among 20 top senior leaders from CBSE, KVS, and JNV. Building on earlier phases and a renewed MoU focused on competency-based education, pedagogy, inclusion, climate education, and leadership, the programme deepens participants’ expertise in evidence-informed practices, psychometrics, data analysis, and NCF-aligned strategies while embedding skills such as critical thinking and communication. This was delivered in two phases, phase 1 included a 20-hour online component (Dec 2025–Feb 2026) covering theory of change, competency-based and inclusive assessment, psychometrics, and curriculum reform, culminating in a capstone project. This was followed by a six-day UK immersion (May/June 2026) featuring visits to AQA, Teach First, Ofsted, schools, and Oxford International Qualifications, offering professional exchange and exposure to international best practices. The programme concluded with an evaluation report providing recommendations for scale-up and supporting participants to lead curriculum and assessment reforms across their systems.

The annual School Education Conference has become a flagship platform for dialogue on education reform in India. It brings together policymakers, researchers, school leaders and educators to discuss key priorities including competency-based education, multilingual approaches, assessment reform, sustainability, and innovation in curriculum and pedagogy.

The conference supports knowledge sharing, collaboration and collective action across the education system.

Since 2020, the British Council–CBSE partnership has

  • Reached 100,000+ teachers through professional development resources and support
  • Trained and engaged 2,000+ teachers and education professionals
  • Conducted research across 30 schools in diverse regions of India
  • Convened 15,000+ educators and stakeholders through national education conferences
  • Supported the professional development of 50 senior education leaders through UK-led leadership programmes
  • Established a renewed five-year partnership (2023–2028) to advance education reform at scale

As the partnership continues through 2028, the British Council and CBSE will remain committed to strengthening teaching, learning, and assessment across India’s school education system. The partnership will support educators, school leaders, and policymakers through research, professional development, leadership programmes, and system-level collaboration, advancing learner-centred approaches and contributing to the implementation of India’s education reform agenda.

You may access the project resources in the 'Downloads' section below.
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