There are 164 different languages represented in Lewisham’s schools.  However, even in the 15th most diverse borough in the country, the visit of three South African delegates as part of the Global School Partnerships (GSP) programme still had the power to capture the attention and imagination of Primary School children across the borough.

The visitors, two South African School Headteachers and a District Director of Education, had come to this corner of South East London after ten Lewisham Primary Schools, including one Special School, had been partnered with ten Schools in Ehlanzeni, South Africa.

The start of their week-long visit began with a workshop involving the South African delegation and Lewisham partner school representatives, on how each could achieve the most out of their partnerships.  This was followed by visits to 2 or 3 Lewisham partner schools each day.
 
Each school visited had planned different ways to gain the most from the delegation.  This ranged from observing and taking part in lessons to participation in special assemblies.  Children and teachers alike had questions ranging from whether pupils in South Africa wore uniforms to how many children they had per teacher?  For the record they do wear uniforms and it’s upwards of 60 children per teacher! 

In return the delegation from South Africa took home valuable lessons on issues such as performance management, curriculum development and school improvement methods. 

This visit had been part of the Department for International Development funded GSP programme.  The GSP programme was created in 2003 and by January 2010 there were nearly 2,000 partnerships established between schools in the UK and schools in 56 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

The funding available to local authorities facilitates two visits: one from the UK to their partner schools and a reciprocal visit. The grant funding paid for this visit to Lewisham Primary School’s involved in the project.

However, the visit was just a small part in the long lasting partnerships that aim to connect classrooms in Lewisham and Ehlanzeni.  This has already started with the development of an online community to aid communication between all Schools involved in the project. 

The young people of Lewisham, through initiatives such as the Global School Partnerships, hope to improve themselves by understanding and learning about different communities and cultures.  In a globalised world this is one way we can ensure collaboration and co-operation.

For more information please contact Dave Borland This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it