What are the benefits of school linking?

An international partnership can be an exciting and valuable educational experience for pupils, teachers and everyone involved with the school. By bringing a global dimension to teaching and learning, linking can enrich the curriculum. School partnerships can: 

• Be a source of new ideas and thinking 
• Stimulate enthusiasm and motivation to learn
• Inspire a desire to make a difference locally and globally 

The Link Schools Programme gives all schools access to Link Community Development’s 15 years of experience in international development and school partnerships. Our relationship with communities, schools, districts and governments in Africa can support your learning about global issues such as sustainable development, rights and responsibilities and citizenship. 

Working together partner schools can integrate a global dimension into school life while supporting each other to improve teaching and learning and the achievement of children. 

Your school partnership can add value to other school initiatives: 

• Eco-Schools
• Community Cohesion
• Every Child Matters
• International School Award

“They participate in sustainability and re-cycling projects and gain first-hand experience of the global community through the school’s link with a school in Uganda.” 
Whitefriars First and Middle School’s Ofsted Inspection Report


Why join the Link Schools Programme? 

With funding from the European Union, the Link Schools Programme aims to raise awareness of global issues. It supports your schools and communities to take relevant and appropriate action to address these issues locally and globally. In this way, we feel that the Link Schools Programme can offer as much opportunity to both schools involved in a global partnership. 

As a link school you will benefit from: 

• Training about good practice in school linking on a cluster basis so that your school can come together with others to share learning and ideas and support one another
• Partnership resource materials that guide the process of learning together with your partner school about global issues such as the environment and health, and that also deliver on curriculum outcomes
• The chance to communicate regularly with your partners through the provision of solar power, computer equipment, and internet access to your partner schools 

In addition, you have access to dedicated staff and ongoing support for both partner schools, including practical support with organising school visits; with the arrangement of regular correspondence between schools to ensure the exchange of letters and projects; and with guidance and support to take action to make a difference to your partner school’s development.

"Having the experience and support of Link Community Development has been fundamental. It gives us confidence in our involvement and it is heartening to know that staff from ‘Link’ are working on the ground in Uganda facilitating our links."
Michael Loncaster, Head Teacher, Molsecroft Primary School

Read our latest Link Schools Programme newsletter with up to date information on our new School Development Projects.

 

Postcards produced by a Ghanaian school for their UK partner school.