International linking
Broadening horizons D
Rayleigh Primary School in Essex prides itself on producing responsible global citizens. Alison Thomas talks to headteacher Peter Malcolm about how their many European links help their pupils thrive
eadlines. The very word fills teachers with dread. Forms to fill out. Assessments to do. Reports to write. Deadlines are synonymous with late nights and pressure.
But there is one type of deadline that brings Peter Malcolm nothing
but joy. Headteacher of Rayleigh Primary School in Essex, he is currently engaged in not one, but two, multinational projects funded by the European Union’s Comenius programme. As the date for completing the latest joint activity draws near, all sorts of exciting materials come flooding into school. It might be biscuit recipes from a variety of countries around Europe. Or songs recorded by the pupils of partner schools. At the end of last
“I believe our children need to grow
up being capable of working anywhere in the world.”
term, a flurry of Christmas cards in seven different languages caused quite a stir. And, of course, deadlines give his own pupils an incentive to stay on
task while the prospect of a real audience for their work inspires them to give of their best. A video portrait of the school made by year 5 for their peers in Turkey, Poland, Bulgaria, France, Slovenia and Belgium is one example of many. He explained: “We gave them a camera and sent them off around
school to film the things that they find special. They were in charge of what went into the film and we just helped with the editing. They loved
every minute and did an excellent job. It’s the sort of activity that gets everyone involved, including children with special needs. One little girl with autism was very keen to be captured on camera telling us what she feels proud of in school.”
From eTwinning to Comenius Now the holder of a full British Council International School Award, the school first attempted to forge international links 16 years ago, but with limited success. Then in 2005 eTwinning was born, the online platform for European schools that is part of the Comenius programme. Both programmes are managed by the British Council in the UK. eTwinning seminars introduced Mr Malcolm to new software and helped him to understand the reasons why some partnerships fail, while the online database enabled him to build up a large network of schools actively seeking to engage in a project. This in turn led to From the Waste Basket, a multinational Comenius
project on recycling that was so successful it earned the French co-ordinating school a national award. Tchou Tchou the Library Train followed in 2010 and hot on its heels cameA Day Away from the Virtual World in 2011. Each of these ventures has its own distinctive character, but all have the
same objective: to broaden children’s horizons, inspire their enthusiasm for learning, help them to become responsible global citizens, and encourage and support foreign language learning and teaching. “I believe our children need to grow up being capable of working
anywhere in the world. They won’t do that if we cling on to our historic insularity and prejudices,” said Mr Malcolm.
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