Using international work to shape school development

Daley Barber-Allen

Deputy Headteacher

Thomas Bewick School

Newcastle

About the school…

The international story so far…

Comenius project (2010 – 2012)

‘Together Green’

Comenius project (2012 – 2014)

‘Jump into our healthy world’

The countries involved

• Schools working together on the same planned activities, encouraging a sense of community and belonging to a wider group.

• Sharing expertise, teaching ideas and general good practice.

• Opportunities for pupils and staff to meet and work with REAL people from different schools and countries.

• Increased awareness of own and other cultures, language, traditions and practices.

• Travel – exciting experiences & increased confidence for pupils and families.

• Bringing the wider world into the classrooms.

Some of the benefits

International work can help to shape all areas

of school development

School development

priorities

Pupil progress and achievement

Teaching and Learning

Behaviour & Safety Leadership & Management

Partnerships

• Increased motivation

• Communication & interaction skills

• Achievements shared on a wider scale

• Cross curricular elements (can embed int. work in all subjects)

• Sharing good practice / expertise

• Exciting for pupils and teachers

• Improve literacy and ICT skills

• Can help to develop and strengthen links between communities (local and beyond)

• Sense of pride in own school and environment

• Sharing ideas / practice• Curriculum design• Education models• Professional Development

Communication and Interaction(Central to our SDP)

For pupils:•Links with any community beyond the school are beneficial in terms of broadening opportunities for interacting and communicating with others •Can address the concept of difference in a positive way by comparing selves with others•Addresses some of the barriers that autism presents (particularly around communication and social interaction)•Universal systems of communication

For staff:•Professional development opportunities•Sharing ideas and good practice•Wider network of colleagues in different countries with different experiences, ideas and areas of expertise

Future plans for international work

• Erasmus+ project (application being processed!)

- Communication and interaction focus- Social skills focus - Sensory curriculum- Strengthening relationships with previous partners- Developing autism expertise in partner schools

through training and job shadowing

• Connecting Classrooms project

- Developed a link with a special school in Rwanda- Planning a similar project to the one described

above

Thank you for listening! Good luck with all of your international work