INTERNATIONAL THINKING in association with
The tears at the
airport say it all
In October last
year, Ballyclare
High School
became the
first in Northern Ireland to
receive the International
School Award on four
separate occasions. Chris
Parr paid a visit to find
out more
HE DCSF International School Award
T
(ISA), run by the British Council, gives
official recognition to the international
work done by schools across the
UK, and Ballyclare High School has
repeatedly shown itself to be worthy
of the prestigious accolade.
In addition to embedding internationalism across
its curriculum, the school is linked with schools in
Germany and France, and also takes part in regular trips
to Romania, where students work with children in some
of the country’s orphanages.
Carol Courtney, the schools international co-
ordinator, explained: “When I came to the school 35
years ago, we started to look at Europe, and tried to
come up with some ideas for closer working. Those
ideas have developed over time. For example, transport
links to France from Ballyclare have only really become
easy in recent years.
“I’ve been on so many trips, and every time I am
so proud of the way the pupils act; they are great Four times a winner: Students from Ballyclare High on a trip to Colmar in Germany (above), while back in Northern Ireland students cele-
ambassadors not only for the school, but for Northern brate their fourth ISA award with John Rolfe from the British Council and the school’s international co-ordinator Carol Courtney (below)
Ireland as a whole. We are lucky that our governing
board is also very proud of the links we’ve built up, a student visiting Ballyclare from Germany. He told school, and in the past we made it a 50-50 split between Germany and Romania in the pipeline, and has also set
because it is very expensive, and does hit the school’s us: “I had never been to Germany before, or even to lessons and excursions,” he told us. up strong links with schools in Ireland, Wales, France,
budget fairly hard.” a German-speaking country, so it was quite difficult “We’ve adapted it a little to take in more local visits, Poland and Croatia as part of the European Studies
Although the school has been sending students to trying to communicate. The difference between the trip and this year we will be going to an art museum in programme.
Germany since 1989, the town of Ballyclare has a long and school though was that you had to talk German, Basel, over the Swiss border, where there will be the Mr Woods added: “The exchanges throw up so
history of German ties. and you had to really try to understand what was being opportunity for those pupils learning both French and many great stories that it is difficult to pick one out, but
Alison Kennedy, who teaches French and German, said to you, just to be able to get by.” German to try out what they’ve studied.” I remember one girl who started panicking when we
told us: “The town of Ballyclare has had a link with More recently, in 1994, the school established a link In addition to the links with France and Germany, were in Stansted Airport, concerned that she was to be
Germany for 50 years, and the school itself has been with Lycée Camille Sée, a school in Colmar, Eastern Ballyclare students also have an annual opportunity to staying with a boy.
doing exchanges for more than 20 years. France. visit orphanages in Romania. “However, as it turned out, they got on really well,
“We are twinned with a grammar school in The link has seen students from the French school It is all part of School Aid Romania, which sees and she established a great relationship with the whole
Dorsten, in western Germany, and the pupils get three visiting Northern Ireland to take part in lessons, while students from the school, along with those from host family – so much so that she went back out to visit
opportunities to visit the country during their school students from Ballyclare have taken the trip to France Methodist College in Belfast and St Patrick’s College them in the summer, and the boy came over to stay with
career.” on six occasions in the last 12 years. in Maghera, travelling to the East European country her family.”
The trips have been so successful that many students David Knox, headteacher at Ballyclare, concedes each year. Ms Courtney also has fond memories of her own
now choose to visit Dorsten privately. that the school’s international work takes a significant A further nine schools are also involved in collecting foreign trips with the school.
Ms Kennedy continued: “Many do go back, but sum out of its overall budget, but believes that in the and donating aid as part of the scheme. “The tears at the airport say it all,” she tells us. “When
for the year 8s, it is often the first time they have been long run it is worth it. Since the first trip in 1991, the project has helped they have to say goodbye, they realise how much they
away from home without their family. It’s a big step, “On a personal level, I think the children derive a to complete the refurbishment of a primary school, are going to miss their new friends, and so many of them
but really helps them to develop a bit of independence, huge amount from their travel abroad,” he explained. provided food to the orphanages, and purchased want to go back as soon as they can.” SecEd
and we usually end up getting lots of thank you letters “It is also a great motivator. I was talking this equipment to help deaf children in a kindergarten.
from those who have participated.” morning to a group of pupils about taking a short Jodie, a year 14 student, went to Romania last year,
Further information
All Ballyclare students can apply to go on the trips, French course, and they were very enthused when I where she visited orphanages, children’s hospitals, and ISA: www.globalgateway.org.uk/isa
and although there is usually more demand than there pointed out that they would have a better chance of an old people’s home. Ballyclare High School: www.ballyclarehigh.co.uk
are places, the school makes a point of trying to take a going on the trip to Colmar if they learned a little bit She told us: “It is amazing when you realise how
range of different students. of French.” much of an impact your visit really has. I was talking
Ms Kennedy explained: “On recent trips, we have He added: “It is testament to our link teachers to a girl in one of the orphanages, and she remembered
taken a number of students with a special educational that the international links at Ballyclare High have Laura – a girl from the year above me – who visited
need. These have included a child in a wheelchair, and survived so long, because I know a number of schools her last year. It was so surprising that the one hour that
one who needed to be accompanied by a classroom where they have not. We have been very fortunate to she had spent with her 12 months ago had left such a
assistant in order to make him feel comfortable with have such enthusiastic staff, and I hope we continue lasting impression.”
the process. offering these opportunities to students for a long time Judith Rogers, one of the teachers who accompanied
“What we’ve found is that the other students come to come.” the students to Romania, added: “I was at this school as
into their own – they rally around, and do their best to Alan Woods, head of modern foreign languages, a pupil in 1998, when I was lucky enough to take the
help out anyone who might be finding the trip more says the value of speaking a language in a real-life trip, so I can understand how much the pupils get out
difficult.” scenario is immeasurable – and even has one or two of it. Even prior to the trip, there is a real drive in the
Robin, a year 14 student, visited the German town ideas for getting the children to speak both French and school to raise as much cash as possible. It’s a shame
of Dorsten last year, where he spent time at Ballyclare’s German during their trip. we can only take 14.”
link school, Gymnasium Petrinum. He has since hosted “The children do get to attend classes at the link The school already has further visits to France,
SecEd • January 7 2010 15
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16