Schools Linking Network Project

The Schools Linking Network (SLN) is supporting CDEC and Cumbria County Council, along with forty other local authorities and other organisations, to establish successful and sustainable district-wide linking projects.

Beki Cosh, Global Education Officer for CDEC and Sara Nobili-Park, Development Officer for Human Rights and Anti-racist Education, for the School Improvement Team are working with schools around Cumbria to address local issues of identity, diversity, equality and community. The work strongly supports the promotion of community cohesion and encourages active and effective citizens.

The SLN project schools have been busy carrying out activities in their own classrooms in preparation for their first pupil meeting at a neutral venue.  Many have exchanged work with one another, such as identity post cards, letters or even Powerpoint presentations about themselves.

Beki Cosh went to observe and assist and the recent pupil meetings:

The School Council from Yewdale Primary and Houghton Primary had an action packed day doing sports activities, including some hilarious roller skating, parachute games and a bouncy castle  at the Sands Centre, Carlisle. They then walked to the One World Shop in town to have a tour and look around. They even got a free Fairtrade chocolate bar to boost their energy to walk back ! Both schools will be learning more about Fairtrade as the project progresses into 2011.

A small group of sixth formers from Newman Catholic High School and year 11’s from James Rennie Special School also met at the Sands Centre. They took a more relaxed approach and exchanged some homemade Powerpoint presentations about themselves so we all got to know each other a little better. Pupils also enjoyed a few identity games and then chatted over a drink and snack. Pupils are looking forward to meeting up again and working together to produce short films asking the questions Who am I? and Who are we?

Pupils from Coniston Primary and John Ruskin Secondary braved the icy weather and walked to meet each other at the local St Andrew’s Youth Centre. Pupils had fun playing a game of identity Bingo and other games before taking part in The Big Draw! Everyone joined in to make a collaborative piece of art work based on their own likes and loves that will be part of a grand display in the village at the end of the project. Watch this space!

Year 6 pupils from Ormsgill Primary and St Columba’s Primary got together for some critical skills work thinking about their local area and the question Where do we live? They enjoyed a tour of the Dock Museum before getting down to work to produce a montage poster with new found friends.

For more information about SLN look at www.schoolslinkingnetwork.org.uk and for more about global school linking visit CDEC’s school linking  page.