Barry schools build global links with Ghana (From Barry And District News)

Barry schools build global links with Ghana

8:50am Saturday 11th February 2012 in News

BARRY Comprehensive School welcomed two teachers from Juaben Senior High School, Ghana to the community to strengthen the Global School Partnership between the two institutions.

Eighteen months ago, Barry Comprehensive art teacher Miss Helen McCormick travelled to Ghana to develop an international link on multicultural education.

Since the initial visit, the project has grown tremendously with teachers and students across the curriculum becoming involved.

Through a successful application for funding from the British Council and fundraising within Barry Comprehensive, the two Ghanaian teachers were able to leave their country for the first time and visit Wales.

During the visit the pair, Frederick Berchie and Emmanuel Tumfour, followed a lively timetable of lesson observations, cultural trips, staff meetings and extra-curricular activities.

Through these activities staff established a strong working relationship and shared information about their diverse cultures and teaching styles.

The Ghanaians enjoyed trips to the Senedd and The Museum of Welsh Life and were particularly impressed with a tour of local churches given by school governor Graham Ellis.

Staff and students welcomed the teachers into their classrooms, and for the first time were able to ask them direct questions about their culture and traditions, gaining invaluable information and context that goes beyond Internet search engine results.

Rhws Primary School also played host to the guests during their annual exhibition of Year 6 Art work, which was based on Ghanaian culture and included work created during a year 6 visit to Barry Comprehensive.

Louise Lynn, headteacher of Rhws Primary School, was delighted to welcome the visitors and spoke highly of the art work and discussed ways the primary school could participate further in the international partnership.

The charity ‘Show Racism the Red Card’ invited the Ghanaians to their annual presentation event at Cardiff City Football Club.

Miss McCormick had contacted the charity for support, as she wanted to challenge the stereotypes held about African people. In a project with the charity, both schools collaborated on a winning competition entry that celebrated cultural diversity.

The week finished with the Ghanaian teachers presenting Mr Swallow, who had supported the Global School Partnership from the outset, with a traditional handwoven gown and hand carved stool on his retirement.

* On Monday (February 7), Miss McCormick returned to Ghana with Dale Gamble, head of chemistry, to strengthen the partnership further and begin delivering the classroom-based activities which have been formed collaboratively.

The teachers were both weighed down with supplies donated by friends, colleagues and organisations including the NASUWT and Show Racism the Red Card.

Mark Stock, director of local company Paternoster Consulting, generously donated a laptop with the aim of improving communications between the two schools.