Warwickshire News Mine

To celebrate the cluster of schools working, learning and enjoying together, the community recently held its third multi cultural festival, with funding from Coleshill Grammar School Foundation and cluster funding from Warwickshire County Council’s Extended Services.  The project also received support from Coleshill Town Council and Coleshill Civic Society.

The theme this year was Malawi as at last year’s festival the cluster started an international link with a cluster in Malawi and the children now exchange letters. 

Agencies, artists, charities and school staff came together to work with all 8 schools in the cluster over a two week period to enhance their learning about different cultures.  Each school hosted an event for the other schools to enjoy.

At the end of the festival, the schools showcased their work to each other with a small number of invited guests at Coleshill Town Hall.  The event was compered and supported by sixth form students from The Coleshill School and closed by Mayor, Councillor June Upton.

Activities included Story-telling, Art -Making Masks with the support of staff from The Coleshill Secondary School, Black History Month Exhibition, Artefacts from Malawi, Malawi MACS, Dance, Singing, Bugs

The project involved many activities to promote multi-cultural education in schools and the wider community.  A display including art work and photographs is displayed at the Market Hall, Church Hill, Coleshill which is open to the public every Saturday from 10.00-12.00 and on Market days. 

Cluster co-ordinator, Clare Jolly, said:  “The project has increased the amount of children gaining access to different cultures, as all the activities took place in our own local community of schools with the whole community working together to promote cultural diversity and community cohesion. 

"The project will support the personal development and participation of young people with wide ranging learning needs across the different schools and will give them personalised opportunities to develop their leadership skills, gifts and talents.”

In the Cook and Taste Programme, five families from the Coleshill Learning Community came together at Woodlands School to learn about family cooking.  Each week families prepared, cooked and tasted food together. 

The families made vegetable stir fry, chilli con carne, healthy lunch boxes, Chinese style fish, chicken fajitas and potato wedges.  Each week the families took home new ingredients to try another dish at home.

Clare Jolly, added: “Families commented on how lovely it was to have so much space to prepare and cook meals together.

“They wouldn’t have let children get involved before with the family meal but now all members are peeling and chopping and preparing the meal.”

On the last week each family and the organisers all made something at home to bring together for a celebration event.  The children all received certificates and talked about what they had learned.

For further information on these projects and upcoming activities, contact clarejolly@coleshill-learning.co.uk or call 07800 985689.

Link to WCC