Kenyan visitors depart following schools partnership tour

 

Kenyan teachers from more than 4,000 miles away wound up their 10-day tour of Cheshire last week.

Three representatives from the Njoro education district visited 10 schools in Cheshire East to share ideas on global education and to develop Global School Partnerships.

After taking in the sights and sounds of the county, the group met with Cheshire East councillors, officers and head teachers at Westfields, Sandbach, for a final time on Thursday, March 10.

This historic occasion marked the signing of the partnership agreement between Cheshire East schools and those in Kenya.

The visitors made the trip to all schools in the partnership plus a visit to Bentley Motors and South Cheshire College. This was all made possible thanks to funding from the British Council.

Councillor Hilda Gaddum, Cabinet member with responsibility for children and family services, said: “Our Kenyan counterparts had a splendid time in Cheshire in which ideas were exchanged by both visitors and local head teachers.

“Partnerships like these play a very important role in giving schools a global dimension to their curriculum.

“The project supports our vision to improve community life and cohesion by encouraging children to think more about subjects like diversity, globalisation, peace and sustainable development.”

The Cheshire East schools involved in the project are: Astbury St Mary’s Primary School, in Congleton; Rainow Primary School, in Macclesfield; Pebble Brook Primary School, in Crewe; Buglawton C of E Primary School, in Congleton; The Berkeley Primary School, in Crewe; Disley Primary School, in Disley; Lostock Hall Primary School, in Poynton; King’s Grove School, in Crewe; Brereton Primary, in Sandbach and Little Bollington Primary School, near High Legh.

Egerton Primary School, in Knutsford, is also involved in the project and has already established a link with the district.

The Global School Partnerships Programme encourages schools around the world to share effective practice on developing a ‘global’ dimension in their respective curriculums.

The visit followed a recent trip by Cheshire East school heads, who visited 10 schools in Njoro to help to develop school links. Alison Hooper, head at Egerton School, was selected to represent Cheshire East, along with Jenny Wagstaffe of Astbury St Mary’s Primary School and Mark Bertinshaw of Rainow Primary School.