The Global School Alliance exists to unite schools worldwide, empowering educators and students to collaborate, share best practice, and bring global citizenship into every classroom. Our mission is simple: to inspire schools to reimagine learning through the power of global connections.
To ensure that this vision is actionable in every school, we created the GSA ACTIVE Framework – a model that threads through everything we do, making global education accessible, impactful, and sustainable. The framework gives schools, teachers, and students a clear pathway to embedding global learning into everyday practice as a Globally Active School.
What is a Globally Active School?
A GSA Globally Active School places global education at the heart of its mission, combining academic excellence with the holistic development of every learner. These schools are outward-looking, investing in international experiences, cultural exchanges, and personal development. By nurturing empathy, teamwork, and leadership alongside knowledge, they prepare young people not just for exams, but for life – empowering them to shape the future as responsible, innovative, and compassionate global citizens.
Why a Framework Matters
Across our network, schools are eager to engage globally, but many don’t know how to move beyond one-off initiatives like cultural days or assemblies. Without a structured approach, global education can feel overwhelming or unsustainable, and its long-term impact is easily lost.
The ACTIVE framework provides a clear, measurable, and sustainable pathway. Step by step, and with the support of a dedicated account manager, schools connect with others, build staff capacity, inspire students, and embed global learning into the very fabric of school life. ACTIVE turns good intentions into lasting impact – for students, staff, and the wider school community.
The Six ACTIVE Pillars
Each element of the framework represents a principle that schools commit to:
- Awareness – building understanding of global issues and cultural diversity.
- Citizenship – nurturing responsible learners who act with respect locally and globally.
- Teamwork – strengthening collaboration across classrooms, schools, and borders.
- Innovation – using creativity and technology to develop solutions to global challenges.
- Visits – bringing partnerships to life through exchanges, immersions, and virtual connections.
- Education – embedding global learning into curriculum and culture for long-term transformation.
The ACTIVE framework is not a linear process with a fixed start and end point — it’s a cycle of growth and renewal. Schools move through each stage not once, but repeatedly and progressively. Each cycle builds on the last, deepening the school’s global engagement and embedding it more firmly into the culture. Over time, this spiral of continuous improvement transforms teaching, learning, and whole-school development.
Shaping the future, together
The ACTIVE framework embodies our mission: to connect schools, empower educators, and inspire the next generation of global citizens. It ensures that global education is not a series of isolated events, but a sustained journey that enriches student experiences, builds staff confidence, and strengthens international partnerships.
In today’s world, knowledge alone is not enough. The future demands courage, curiosity, and compassion. Exams may open doors, but empathy and understanding open minds. That’s why we work with ambitious schools that see education as more than academic outcomes. Through structured support and strong partnerships, the Global School Alliance helps embed global citizenship into both curriculum and culture. This whole-school approach nurtures confident, resilient young people prepared not just for tests, but for life in an interconnected world.
If you’d like to find out more about how to put the ACTIVE framework into use – join the next Discovery Session. We’ll show you how schools can make the journey from Globally Aware to Globally ACTIVE with our support.
