The global school partnership between Lindley Infant (CE) School, Huddersfield and Glisten International Academy, Nigeria has proved to be “fulfilling, exciting and educational” since it began in 2007. They received their fourth and final year of funding i2011-12.
Even though GSP is coming to a close the partnership continues to thrive with the Academy’s Secondary School forming a new global partnership with Salendine Nook High School and their first visit planned for April 2012.The head teacher of Glisten International Academy tells us about the benefits the partnership has brought.
The benefits have been threefold providing us with:
- A learning focus
- A collaborative culture
- Family and friendship
A learning focus
The visits of teachers and students have been a learning curve for both schools with trust growing out of mutual curiosity. Our horizons have been widened through working together on curriculum development and collaborative projects. New pedagogical ideas have been explored and we have developed a shared commitment to our partnership objectives and learning strategies.
The rich rewards of the partnership led to Lindley School being awarded the International Schools Award and Glisten International Academy’s reputation has soared with an increase in enrolment numbers from 105 in 2007 to 655 in 2012.
A collaborative culture
Our partnership is a testimony that partnerships can be truly equitable in promoting global citizenship to enhance learning. From the outset, there has been an attitude of mutual trust, respect and friendship between the schools’ leadership teams.
The schools are similar in that pupils are from a variety of faiths but the majority are Christians and Muslims. Our schools’ leadership recognised that investing in exchange visits and collaborative projects provide a greater understanding of the diversity, not only of the partner country, but also within our own countries.
The Huddersfield children have discovered that children in Abuja have very similar lives to themselves and that families do not live in the stereotypical African villages. They recognise the Nigerian Flag and supported Nigeria’s football team during the last World Cup!
We believe in developing the pupil voice through our school councils and pupils have helped plan activities for visitors and are now an integral part of curriculum planning.
The opportunities for professional development are highly valued by teachers. The visits developed our confidence in leading professional dialogue and sharing teaching expertise and resources has led to the development of critical thinking skills in real contexts, increasing pupil engagement.
The partnership has also been an excellent means of developing global skills. We planned activities on children’s rights and responsibilities to show our children that they can make a difference. Whilst Lindley CE Infant School supports initiatives like ‘Send my friend to school’, many Glisten International Academy pupils recognise that there are people in the UK that benefit from support. Their families worked together to fundraise and shared the proceeds with a UK charity. This kind of activity shows UK families that we really do have a relationship of mutual respect and understanding.
Family and friendship
The partnership between the schools has transcended a working partnership and has become a friendship. The trust, love, support, empathy and care for one another built over the years has ensured a friendship not only between the schools, but also among the families. ”We are now a BIG GLOBAL FAMILY!” as Yolande from Lindley School says.