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The UK schools are represented below all the films can be seen on www.aroundtheworldin80schools.com
UK Blog:
School Number 1: Coed Y Lan Primary School
The launch of the project at Coed Y Lan primary school was a momentous step on what will be a long and adventurous journey. The first film is now live on the site and I hope that you enjoy the thought provoking images and music that the children have put together. The event was well attended and as it was St David’s day, the children and staff wore traditional Welsh costume and enjoyed traditional Welsh songs.
The Minister of Sustainability, Environment and Housing Jane Davidson AM http://www.janedavidson.org.uk presented the school with a certificate for being school Number 1 of 80 schools and answered a variety of questions on the environment. Some of these questions appear on our e- survey so please enter your own data if you would like to engage in this e - survey on the environment.
No sooner had the first film gone live when we were approached by Roy Noble (http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/radiowales/sites/roynoble ) to appear on Radio Wales, so myself, the Headteacher and two pupils spent an enjoyable afternoon at the BBC studios in Cardiff
The power of multi media !
School Number 2 : Glyn Derw High School
http://www.glynderw.cardiff.sch.uk/
Saturday at Glyn Derw high school was like taking a walk into the past.
I was greeted eagerly by a group of children busily scurrying around setting up trestle tables, cleaning and preparing vegetables, surfing the net, working in harmony with the silver surfers.
The silver surfers I must explain have nothing to do with surf, even though we have some of the best surfing beaches in Wales close by. The silver surfers are a group of people aged 50 – 90 that regularly come into the school to learn how to use the internet. Their teachers? – The children.
But today was a different exercise, today was a celebration of St Davids day and the silver surfers were putting on an Eisteddford for the children and local community.
As the children prepared traditional cawl ( Welsh Stew) with vegetables from nearby allotments, I took time out to talk to one of the silver surfers aged 81 about the nature of this intergenerational partnership. (See Video ) at www.aroundtheworldin80schools.com
On display were goods and crafts past down from generation to generation, welsh vegetables including our legendry leek, needlecraft, art work, woodwork mechanical toys to name but a few ( see gallery)
As I spoke to one of the silver surfers, I was told “ well you see, there was a gap in the generations, there was a generation of parents not interested in the skills but now the kids are taking a new interest and it is important that we show them these skills before they are lost forever”
The hall was a hive of activity, and the energy of these silver surfers was electric, they joked and laughed the afternoon away and as I listened to their poems, recitations and songs, I was drawn to the memories of my past. As one silver surfer sang out from the stage in her coat of age, the voice of her youth filled the hall. This is intergenerational learning at its best!
School Number 3: Y Pant
I had an enjoyable two days at Ysgol Y Pant. As I arrived at the school to work alongside 6th Formers, Year 12 and 13, it was results day and as usual there was the customary mix of emotions that “results day brings”, a heady mixture of tension, joy, sadness, disappointment, frustration and pride. This gave rise to a discussion of pressures on today’s learner and led to the theme of this next film "Pressure point”
The students decided to explore the pressures facing the student of today and by interviewing members of staff compare the pressures of the past with the pressures of today. A voyage of discovery into the passing of time.
School Number 4: The Model Primary School
http://www.modelprimaryschool.com/
My visit to the Model Primary School in Wales was initially
postponed by a distraught phonecall from the Deputy Headteacher
as the school was on fire and the children were being evacuated.
But I am glad to say that the evacuation was a success and that no one was hurt. So when I arrived at the school, the school was full of painters and decorators repairing the damage and working on an extension. Despite all this the school found time to host me in their school, to make the short film with their pupils and for that I am extremely grateful - Thank you - Diolch yn Fawr Iawn !
The children were milling around like busy bees , enquisitive and full of questions about the journey. despite their young age or maybe because of their young age, I was inundated with questions ... How will I travel? Will the schools have toilets? Do the schools have food? It soon became apparent that I was not the only one interested in learning about how other people learn !
There were so many questions, that these young people asked, that we have put them together as an esurvey which will appear on their webpage under Schools - School Number 4.
The children were keeen to show me their school, their town and community and in doing so produced a short film Out n About in Carmarthen. Of course the recent Wales win of the Grand Slam ( Rugby Championship)was foremost in their minds and the children had their own version of the song Sospan Fach so enjoy ! Ugy Ugy Ugy !!!
Oi Oi Oi !
School Number 5: The Westgate School
http://www.westgate.slough.sch.uk/index.asp
The Westgate School is in Slough near London, England.
A lively vibrant shool close to the city centre. I was greeted by the Headboy and a group of students from their Business and Enterprise and their Media Crew. The school is celebrating its 50th Birthday this year and are keen for ex-pupils and staff to get in touch.
The film the students made, celebrates the wide range of activities and success that this school enjoys. They relay messages to all of you in English, Spanish, Urdu, German, Sign Language and even Back Slang .... So if you want to find out more about their 50th year then please feel free to contact the school via their website!
The students were curious about my trip as you can see in their film, and I'm sure that they won't be the only school with questions, so if there is anything you need to know during my year long journey then please feel free to email me. Alternatively if you wish to ask me questions via a podcast or vodcast then email me the link and I will post your queries on this site along with an answer.
School Number 6: Man Utd Study Centre
Well this is a school with a difference. Today I visited the Man Utd
Study Centre School in Old Trafford, Manchester. Its been a few years since I have been here, 8 in fact and it made me realise how quickly time flies. The school is run by two great guys Neil and Chris , I arrived shortly before the children did and used the time to walk around the Man Utd Museum. If you have'nt been there before, it is well worth a visit, even if dare I say it, you are not a football fan. www.manutd.com
As the children arrived , they soon settled down collating and analysing the data they had collected from their environmental centre. As the eco-warriers entered the data on their PC's and analysed the results on the interactive whiteboard, I chatted to them about their time at the study centre. "Cwl" , " Wicked", were just some of the replies.
Following lunch, the children took me on a mystery tour to the Teams training ground and Man Utd Academy we visited the ecology ground for a pond dipping exercise, seraching the legendary
mosside for creatures, newts and toads. The wildlife trust is an essential part of Academy life, ensuring that the natural balance of wildlife here is maintained.
Then I was treated to a guided tour of the players facilities, football hall, gym, swimming pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, physiotherapy room and most importantly of all - the boot room, a room full of used football boots being dried at an extreme heat... if we had "smell a net" let me tell you thats one room you wouldnt want to visit !
I ended the day taking home a Man Utd football, which I will take on my visit to Uganda in June. We are going to play a game of football out there, film it and webcam it back to the centre.
The centre is run by two great guys - Neil & Chris - their mission:
"The Manchester United Study Support Centre will seek to raise achievement by motivating young people to become more effective learners through activities that will enrich the curriculum, enhance key skills and raise self-esteem. The centre will help to develop confident, self-motivated and independent young people with a positive attitude to learning."
If today was anything to go by, they are well on their way to achieving it, I had a fantastic day, the children were great and looked after me well and you may never know I may even become a football fan ;0) !
School Number 7: Ramsey Grammar School Isle of Man
Ramsey Grammar School in the Isle of Man was my next visit and I was met by a vibrant enthusiastic group of students keen to show me all elements of the school including their newly built Rural, Agricultural and Environmental centre.
Here the students raise sheep, pigs and chickens and produce organic produce for resale as part of their business and mini enterprise activities. One of their pigs was in labour and due to give birth, however the labour was a long one and the pig was still in labour when I left.
The school has 3 FLA' s ( Flexibile Learning Areas ) for students with special educational needs. Activities include mountain biking, archery, orienteering to name but a few, Activities take place on the island and on the mainland.
The Isle of man is famous for its TT Races, www.iomtt.com
an annual motorcycle race that takes part on the narrow island roads over a course that takes you through villages, mountains, hills and the magnificent coastal path. It celebrated its Centenary last year 2007 with 100 years of racing being held on the island. I am sure that there will be 100 more yet to come !
The predominant culture of the island is Manx, and the locals take great pride in keeping the Manx culture and language alive. Manx is related to the Gaelic Culture and Heritage.
Explore the links to find out more and even learn the Manx language:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manx_language
I would like to say a special Thank You to all the people who hosted my visit, the children and staff at Ramsey Grammar School, the locals .... Manx of course ;0) and a Special Thank you to Donna, Elsa and the two Dave's who generously showed me the island and gave me an insight into the Manx Culture.
School Number 9 -- Our Lady St Patricks Dunbarton Scotland
Our Lady St Patricks School Dunbarton is situated north of Glasgow, a short drive from Loch Lomund. The school is a busy place with its own TV Broadcasting Studio.
I was warmly welcomed by a group of students who eagerly introduced me to the Gaelic culture. The school has "School of Ambition " Status and is a keen advocate of the creative industries. In 2007 the school held its own fashion show "Shadows and Light" and parts of this can be seen in the film.
OLSP has links with schools in Kenya and Uganda, students here are actively involved in fundraising activities to support their sister schools in Africa. Display photos proudly show the Kenyan children wearing football jerseys donated by the school and Celtic football club. However the influence of this partnership works both ways, the art department has used its african influence in its fashion design teaching and learning as illustrated in the film.
The students proudly showed me that in addition to talent found in the school, talent can be foundall over Scotland. in addition to successful rugby and football teams, I was reminded that Billy Conolly, Gordon Brown, Gordon Ramsey and J K Rowling are all Scottish !
In addition to celebrating the range of activities offered in school, the students voiced concerns for both their locality and the world in general. Issues of poverty locally and globally, drug abuse and gang culture were topics of debate over the two days. The students acknowledged the negative impact of these issues and were keen to discuss strategies for tackling these issues.
If my short visit was anything to go by the countryside is stunning, the people welcoming and the children proud of their ancestory and independance.
"Mòran taing." - Many Thanks !
School Number 10 - Pontypridd High School
http://www.coedylanschool.co.uk
Pontypridd High School is situated in a quiet Welsh valley surrounded by mountains and rivers. The school is built on the site of an old mining colliery along with a memorial to one of the worst mining disasters in history, the Albion Colliery Explosion where nearly 300 of the villages' men and boys were killed in the when the village's mine exploded.
The school has expanded over time and now houses new modern facilities and a sports centre for school and community use.
In addition to teaching the national curriculum, the school offers the Welsh Baccalaureate, an E3 plus program and a Construction Course.
The school is actively involved in International Linking with Global Citizenship and Enviromental sustainability high on the agenda. They have their own Eco Club that meets at lunchtimes and have already achieved their bronze Eco status.
The school also boasts their own Climate Change Champion Katie who is championing change not just in the school but in the global community at large. Katie represents the school and Wales and travels as far a field as Amsterdam and Brussels to promote the schools good work. She has a regular coloumn in the Pontypridd Observer and a radio slot on GM radio ...so listen in folks !
Pontypridd High School is part of PONT - Pontypridd Overseas Network Trust and CAP - Campaign Against Poverty. The staff and students play an active part in their partnership with schools in Mbale working on joint projects for health, education and climate change. The pupils benefit enormously from the partnership in terms of Global Citizenship, Geography, R.E. Art, English, Drama, Music, Environmental Awareness, Construction and the Welsh Baccalaureate.
I shall be visiting one of their sister schools in Uganda during the African leg of my journey.
The staff and students at the school are keen to expand on their global citizenship projects, so if you would like to get to know them better then feel free to drop them an email via their school website.
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