International linking


He also believes that young people who cannot communicate in other languages will be at a huge disadvantage. It is no coincidence that two of the three projects have been led by a French school. French is the language that pupils at Rayleigh Primary are taught from the age of three. Video-conferencing gives them the chance to try out what they have


learned in a real live context. They have also welcomed children from a French partner school on more than one occasion. Now, thanks to Comenius funding, a group of 15 is about to cross the Channel for the very first time. UK rules and regulations have made it impossible to


“It is hard for schools to distinguish


between expensive gadgets that promise the earth and fail to deliver and useful software that has a real impact.”


accept the invitation to stay with families. However, an organised trip to a residential centre not far from the school is a compromise that will enable them to join their peers in the classroom and experience school life à la française.


From artefacts and documents to creative ICT For Tchou Tchou the Library Train, children have been sourcing products and compiling documents that shed a little light on their respective homelands. They have swapped biscuit recipes and baked them to see what people in other countries like eating. They have sent each other pictures of famous monuments and they are currently preparing an exchange of dolls in national costume. Each product is accompanied by a brief explanation in French, German and English. In the case of Snow White, the story has been written in all eight of the partner school languages. Now any child who visits the Tchou Tchou library can pick up the familiar tale in Swedish, Hungarian and Polish and compare the texts. In contrast, A Day Away from the Virtual World uses digital


technology to capture children’s lives. The apparent contradiction in terms is intentional and reflects the concern of the Turkish co-ordinating school that its pupils spend far too much time playing online games. The plan is to create a gigantic website, which will showcase a host of films, sound recordings, photo-stories and comics, demonstrating how young people can have lots of fun away from their consoles, still using a computer, but as a learning tool. Mr Malcolm’s knowledge of the pedagogical worth of different


applications is proving invaluable, and for this he pays tribute to the insights he has gained through eTwinning training. He explained: “It is hard for schools to distinguish between expensive


gadgets that promise the earth and fail to deliver and useful software that has a real impact on learning. If you’re not careful, you end up ploughing time, money and effort into something which may be good for ICT but diverts you away from your core purposes in terms of literacy and


numeracy. When you make a comic, you can see the hard literacy link. When you film a story, the children have to invent it, rehearse it, and then film it scene by scene. That takes them right into the heart of what makes a good story and how to craft it.”


A lasting legacy If Comenius benefits pupils of all ages, the impact on staff is equally profound, especially for those who travel abroad. Observing a stimulating classroom environment, free from the pressures of Ofsted inspections and endless assessments, leads them to question how they deliver their lessons. Noting the achievements of children in countries like Bulgaria, where resources are scarce, reminds them of what education used to be like at home before whiteboards and computers became standard equipment in almost every classroom. “In some schools children still have a sleep in the afternoon. It’s good


for teachers to see that and reflect,” observed Mr Malcolm. Comenius has also helped him to recruit high calibre young teachers,


who relish the prospect of collaborating with colleagues from other countries or visiting them in person to gain a fresh perspective. British people are often reproached for not having a very strong sense


of European identity. It is clear that Rayleigh Primary School is one place where they do.


Comenius The 2012 application deadline for Comenius School Partnerships, offering funding of up to €25,000 for staff and pupil exchanges, is February 21, 2012. Surgeries and webinars to help you complete partnership applications are available in January and February. Visit www.britishcouncil.org/comenius-programmes


eTwinning Take advantage of online tools and free training and support to find a European partner and start a collaborative project, or join a colleague’s project. You and your teachers can register any time free of charge at www.etwinning.net Register or start a teacher team by January 31 for the chance to win


education software in the eTwinning Winter Draw. More information at: www.britishcouncil.org/etwinning Comenius and eTwinning are funded by the European Union and managed in the UK by the British Council.


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