British Council brings together partner school leaders in Jordan to strengthen the education ecosystem

The conference reflects the continuous investment of partner schools in Jordan in teacher development, school leadership, and internationally recognized qualifications. The event was opened by HE the British Ambassador to Jordan, Philip Hall, and Amira Manna, Country Director in Jordan at the British Council, in the presence of high-level representatives from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, alongside representatives from Cambridge, Pearson, Oxford AQA, and school leadership teams, emphasizing the strong cooperation between the UK and Jordan in supporting educational excellence. Both days featured keynote sessions delivered by educational leadership consultant Kathleen O'Hare, addressing the concept of future-ready leadership and education and how to apply them practically.

Why does this topic matter?

Amid the rapid developments witnessed by education systems around the world in the fields of artificial intelligence and technology, alongside changing labor market demands, the need grows for confident school leaders, empowered teachers, and learning environments open to international experiences and expertise.

As one of the prominent annual educational events organized by the British Council, the Partner Schools Conference has become a major platform bringing together policymakers, educators, and international partners to exchange expertise, enhance cooperation, and explore practical solutions that contribute to developing education and school leadership and supporting student success across Jordan.

Partner Schools Teacher Continuing Professional Development Forum

The Partner Schools Teacher CPD Forum highlighted the pivotal role of teachers in improving student learning outcomes.

Key activities of the forum included specialized and interactive workshops, including a session titled "Enhancing Learning Impact: Developing Practices for Better Results", presented by Dr. Odai Ababneh, Senior Teacher Trainer at the Queen Rania Teacher Academy.

In parallel, sessions delivered by British Council experts covered exploratory action research, teaching methodologies, and student safeguarding and well-being. The forum concluded with the presentation of certificates and awards in recognition of teacher excellence and innovation.

Partner Schools Leader Conference

The focus during the Partner Schools Leader Conference shifted to the strategic level, with sessions addressing comprehensive school-wide transformation, bringing together school principals and policymakers to discuss the role of strategic leadership in improving the quality of education, enhancing the adaptability of educational institutions, and improving student achievement.

High-level panel discussions, moderated by educational leadership consultant Kathleen O'Hare, addressed ways to align future-ready schools with the Economic Modernisation Vision of Jordan.

In addition, the conference provided an opportunity for members of the student advisory committee to speak about the importance of empowering students to express their views and participate in shaping their educational experience, before the events concluded with a ceremony honoring outstanding partner schools.

A partnership supporting educational excellence

Throughout the conference, contributions from representatives of government entities, the British Embassy, UK awarding bodies, prominent Jordanian universities, and private sector institutions emphasized the importance of sustainable cooperation in strengthening Jordan's education ecosystem.

Participants agreed that investing in teachers and school leaders remains one of the most effective ways to elevate the quality of education, enhance the Kingdom's competitiveness, and equip youth with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to achieve future success.

Amira Manna, Head of Examinations and Education in Jordan at the British Council, said: "Preparing youth for the future requires education systems that embrace innovation, invest in teachers, and empower school leaders to perform their roles with confidence. Through the partner schools network, the British Council continues to provide opportunities for collaboration, professional development, and international partnerships, contributing to enhancing education and expanding opportunities for future generations."

Looking to the future

Discussions initiated in Amman will continue throughout the 2026/2027 academic year as part of the British Council's collaboration with partner schools, government institutions, and UK education partners to turn ideas into practical and tangible steps. By connecting schools with global expertise, internationally recognized qualifications, and high-quality professional development programs, the British Council's Partner Schools network continues to support educational leaders in raising standards, fostering innovation, and preparing students with the confidence and skills needed to succeed in a changing world.

As Jordan continues to invest in educational development and human capital development, the British Council remains committed to empowering educators, strengthening school leadership, and building international partnerships that achieve sustainable impact and contribute to building an education system that prepares youth for the future and empowers them to shape it.

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Stella Wekesa, Senior Regional Communications Manager, Middle East and North Africa.

Email: stella.wekesa@britishcouncil.org

About the British Council

The British Council is the UK's international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding, and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide through arts and culture, and English language teaching. We work with people in over 150 countries and reach over 700 million people. https://www.britishcouncil.jo/en

For more information, please visit British Council Partner Schools Connect. You can also follow the British Council via http://twitter.com/britishcouncil and http://blog.britishcouncil.org.

Information for the Media: About Key Speakers

Amira Manna, Country Director in Jordan at the British Council: A prominent leader in the education sector at the British Council, responsible for developing the council's business within the education and examinations portfolio in the region. During the 2026 Partner Schools Conference, Manna presented a future-focused vision within the discussions on impactful education, emphasizing the importance of innovation, investment in educators, leadership, and collaboration in preparing youth for future opportunities.

HE Philip Hall, British Ambassador to Jordan: Plays a prominent role in strengthening the longstanding partnership between the UK and Jordan. His participation in the Partner Schools Conference reflects the importance of education and international cooperation within the broader framework of relations between the two countries. The British Council's Partner Schools program falls within this partnership, connecting schools and educators in Jordan with British expertise, internationally recognized qualifications, and professional exchange opportunities.

Kathleen O'Hare, International Educational Leadership Consultant: Delivered the keynote session on general strategies titled "Education That Makes a Difference: Building Skills, Shaping Opportunities, and Driving Economic Growth", and moderated high-level policy panel discussions. Her participation focused on comprehensive school-wide transformation, enhancing institutional resilience, and aligning school leadership strategies with national frameworks, such as the Economic Modernisation Vision of Jordan.

Prof. Dr. Dhafer Al-Saraira, President of the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission for Higher Education Institutions (AQACHEI), Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research: Heads the national commission responsible for quality assurance and accreditation in higher education institutions in Jordan. He participated in the panel discussion on aligning education with the Economic Modernisation Vision of Jordan, providing a perspective focused on regulatory frameworks and quality standards within the discussion on future-ready schools.

Prof. Dr. Ala'aldeen Al-Halhouli, President of the German Jordanian University: Heads one of Jordan's prominent universities in the field of applied sciences, known for its focus on technical and vocational pathways geared toward the labor market. He presented the higher education sector's perspective during the panel discussion on aligning schools with Jordan's economic growth agenda.

Dr. Nadia Kharbat, General Manager of Mayar International Schools: Leads operations and strategy at Mayar International Schools. She participated in the Vision 2030 session, addressing the reality of schools and the practical challenges they face in preparing students to keep pace with a changing labor market.

Farah Aweis, Human Resources and Recruitment Specialist at PwC: She works in talent acquisition at PwC, giving her direct insight into the skills employers look for in fresh graduates. She participated in the panel discussion on schools capable of keeping pace with future requirements, providing the employers' perspective within the discussion on education.

Dr. Oday Ababneh, Senior Teacher Trainer at the Queen Rania Teacher Academy: He moderated the interactive workshop titled "Enhancing Learning Impact: Developing Practices to Achieve Better Outcomes," which focused on modern and advanced teaching methods, developing classroom practices, and improving student learning outcomes at the local level through teacher empowerment.

Dr. Bayan Rababa, recipient of the Action Research Grant under the British Council's Partner Schools programme: She presented specialized training workshops titled "The Power of Action Research," focusing on empowering educators to use data-driven research methodologies tailored to the local context and applied directly in classroom environments.

Osama Eid, Regional Safeguarding Manager for the Middle East and North Africa at the British Council: He delivered specialized workshops titled "Safeguarding in School Environments," focusing on student well-being, adherence to institutional safety standards, and the implementation of safeguarding policies within educational frameworks in the region.

Queen Rania Teacher Academy: Participated in the Continuing Professional Development Forum for Teachers through interactive workshops, where male and female teachers explored methods that can be applied in classroom practices, contributing to providing more responsive, innovative, and future-ready learning environments. The Academy's participation also emphasizes the importance of cooperation between Jordanian educational institutions and international partners in enhancing teachers' capabilities.

British Awarding Bodies – Cambridge | Pearson | Oxford AQA: Participated in the Partner Schools programme alongside teachers and school leaders. Their participation contributes to strengthening the broader partnership supporting partner schools in Jordan, and provides schools with the opportunity to learn about developments in the field of education and international qualifications, and to exchange views on the reality of education in Jordan.

British Council Partner Schools: A global network that supports schools in delivering internationally recognized British qualifications, alongside providing professional development, collaboration, and learning opportunities for teachers and school leaders. The network spans six regions and over countries, comprising more than 2,600 schools in over 40 countries.