Strategic delegation explored UK educational innovation aligned with Vision 2030 transformation goals
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – 11 February 2026: The British Council successfully hosted the MENA UK Study Tour 2026, welcoming a delegation of seven Saudi partner schools to the UK for a week-long programme designed to deepen education collaboration and share best practice.
Delivered from 18–24 January in London and Cambridge, the tour brought together 46 senior education leaders and Ministry of Education representatives from Egypt, Jordan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Morocco and Lebanon. Participants engaged in expert sessions at British Council HQ, alongside curated school immersions and leadership workshops translating UK insights into practical school improvement.
This year in its 12th edition, and themed: ‘Where Vision Meets Practice: Leadership, Wellbeing and AI for Safer, Smarter Schools,’ the programme addressed priorities directly relevant to Saudi Arabia’s education transformation journey, including digital integration, teacher development and whole-school excellence frameworks.
These carefully selected visits provided Saudi educators and policymakers with direct exposure to innovative practices, effective leadership structures, and quality frameworks that can inform the Kingdom’s ongoing education transformation.
Building Leadership for a Changing Educational Landscape
Key priorities included:
- AI in teaching and school operations
- Teacher recruitment, retention and wellbeing
- Inspection readiness and school improvement
- Inclusive teaching and whole-school leadership
- Governance, safeguarding and quality assurance
Participants visited leading UK schools and institutions, engaging directly with practitioners and observing effective leadership and teaching approaches in action.
Mark Walker, Director, English and Exams at the British Council, noted: ‘The British Council remains deeply committed to supporting schools to navigate rapid change, from digital transformation to new regulatory expectations. The 2026 tour created space for learning, reflection, and co-creation of solutions that will directly strengthen teaching, leadership and student outcomes across the region.’
Fakhar Jaffery, Exams Director Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain, at the British Council, added: ‘We designed this study tour to support education systems navigating significant transformation, and Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 provided a compelling context for our work together.’
Programme Highlights
- British Council HQ: Expert briefings on AI in education, safeguarding and teacher retention
- UK school visits: Lesson observations, leadership meetings and pastoral systems
- Workshops and roundtables: Ofsted preparation, digital literacy and inspection frameworks
- Cultural experiences: Exposure to UK heritage and education traditions
- Networking: Cross-regional peer learning and emerging +partnerships
The meticulously designed programme balanced institutional visits, expert briefings, practical workshops, and cultural experiences.
A Continued Commitment to Strengthening Education
Through the MENA UK Study Tour, the British Council continues to support Saudi schools through our Partner Schools network, leadership development programmes and ongoing professional engagement designed to enhance education outcomes for learners nationwide.
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation 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. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2024–25 we reached 599 million people. www.britishcouncil.org