Warwickshire News Mine

Organised by Warwickshire County Council’s International Development Office, the week-long visit gave the Indian Principals – the equivalent of our headteachers - the chance to see first hand how children are educated in British schools.

They were welcomed by their partner schools spanning each area of the county: St Andrew’s Benn Primary School and Bilton School in Rugby, George Eliot School and Wembrooke Primary School in Nuneaton, Kineton School, Stratford Grammar School for Girls and Wellesbourne Primary School in South Warwickshire and Myton School and Lillington Primary School in Warwick and Leamington district.

The project is funded by the Government’s Department for International Development Global Schools Partnerships programme which requires participating schools to have an international outlook and raise global issues in the classroom and to examine the challenges facing the world such as environmental sustainability and economics.

Earlier this year Warwickshire became the first local authority in the UK to forge a formal educational link with Mumbai during a visit to India.
A self-funded high-level visit of education officials from Mumbai to Warwickshire will take place in January 2009.

Warwickshire County Council’s International Development Officer Judith Young said: “This link with India is a groundbreaking partnership which is already proving beneficial to all the schools involved.

“The standard of education in India is very high but seeing the teaching and resources in Warwickshire schools has been a real eye-opener for the Principals. There is a great deal that the schools, teachers and pupils can learn from each other, particularly in developing the skills of our young people as future citizens of a global society and economy”

The schools have been busy establishing e-links, pupil-to-pupil communication and working jointly on specific curriculum projects.

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People and Families, added: “In Warwickshire we are keen for our schools to develop internationally. The partnerships are really starting to flourish and the schools have agreed on numerous future collaborations including business, performing arts and teaching practices, as well as exchanging ideas on a variety of subjects.”

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