Bristol schools gain international perspective

Release Date:  09-Feb-2010

Thirty-six teachers from Bristol will be spending their February break in two very different parts of the world.

As part of a long-running exchange programme, twenty-three Bristol teachers will be visiting Masindi in Uganda, a district four hours by road north of Kampala. At the same time, a group of 13 teachers will visit St Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean, with the aim of setting up partnerships with local schools.

Teachers from Bankleaze, Easton, Briarwood, Christchurch, Fair Furlong, Hillfields, St Anne's Park and Gay Elms primary schools, and Orchard, St Mary Redcliffe and Temple, and Henbury secondary schools have all been working on joint projects with partner schools in Masindi.

During their week away, the teachers will teach classes, run staff meetings and work on joint projects, including developing a joint book of poetry. Children in Bristol have been preparing work to send out to their partner classes.

The project is funded by the British Council and the Department for International Development.

The group visiting Uganda also includes students from Henbury and St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School, who will take part in classes and help run activities. Jacob Spiers, from Henbury School, said: "I'm really excited - this is a once in a lifetime experience. I'm looking forward to meeting people in Masindi and seeing what their life is like."

Hannah Weekes, also from Henbury school, adds: "This will be a totally new experience and I'm really excited. We've worked hard to raise money for our trip by packing bags at Morrisons and holding raffles at school. I'm looking forward to experiencing life in another part of the world and seeing what experiences we can share."

The group visiting St Vincent and the Grenadines includes teachers from Elmlea Junior School, Woodstock, St Pius, Begbrook, Stoke Bishop, Christchurch and Ashton Gate primary schools. It is funded by the DCSF as part of a scheme to help teachers learn from good practice in other countries. The group will visit schools to learn about education in the Caribbean and set up links with schools so children in both countries can learn more about each others lives.

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Councillor Clare Campion-Smith, said: "Gaining an understanding of how other people live is an important part of children's education. We have a number of programmes in place linking schools in different areas of the city, and linking Bristol schools with other areas of the country. Our links with Masindi give children an international perspective. I look forward to a continuing exchange of learning with schools in Uganda and hope we will be able to establish similar partnerships in St Vincent and the Grenadines."

Author:   Julia Walton

For all media enquiries relating to this press release, please contact Corporate Communications on 0117 922 2650.

To link to this page directly, use the URL
http://www.bristol.gov.uk/redirect?oid=PressRelease-id-33409081

Subscribe to our free email bulletin service and get the latest news and information about consultations and events happening in the city - www.bristol.gov.uk/newsdirect