Linking – Global School Partnerships
Partnership Links
Links take many different forms and have often widely differing aims.
Many Partnership Links are initiated by individual teachers and some schools
have a designated ‘International’ or ‘Global Dimension’
Coordinator who manages a team within the school.
Some Partnership Links have been set by Local Authorities, Faith Communities
(Churches, Mosques, Temples), Parents or Schools Governors, or by local
solidarity groups.
Below are a number of examples of these. If you have any more, or would
like your link featured, please contact us.
1. Local Authorities who have supported particular initiatives
Leeds City Council Leeds – Durban (South Africa)
Leeds – Hangzhou (China)
International Leeds (a department of the City Council) has supported schools
to link with schools in its twin cities - Durban and Hangzhou.
Contact: Jenny Hill Tel 0113 214 4087
2. Faith based Links
Ripon – Columbo (Sri Lanka) Diocesan Link
A link involving a group of church schools linking with church schools
through the diocese
Contact: Sarah Fishwick at Leeds DEC Tel : 0113 380 5661
3. Community Links
York - Fanteakwa (Ghana) link
A community-based link in York that has also involved a group of York
schools
Contact: Chrissie Dell Tel: 01904 876755
4. Schools with Partnership Links
Schools have chosen to make links in many countries of the South. The following have been identified as examples:
• Aston High School - Makunduchi School Partnership
• Upper Wharfedale, North Yorks
Contact: Rebecca Mason – mason.r@virgin.net
• Dunnington CE Primary School
Contact: Kathryn Cummings 01904 489615
School Links Database
A database of schools with links can be found on the YHGSA website at:
If you know of any schools with links that are not featured on the site please contact us with the details - c.dell@yorksj.ac.uk
Where to Link
Schools have Links with countries all over the world. Examples of countries which schools in the region have links are: Kenya; Ghana; The Gambia; India; Sri Lanka; China; Sierre Leone; Nicaragua
Some things to consider when you are choosing a country to link with:
How easy will it be to communicate – by letter, phone, fax or email ?
What opportunities are there to incorporate the Link into the curriculum (i.e. is the country studied at any point?
Could study of the Link partner’s country be a feature of lessons in more than one subject ?
Types of link
Individual School-school
The most common form of link. Although often started by one enthusiastic
teacher it is essential that there is widespread support in school to
ensure sustainability
Clusters
This is where 2 or 3 schools within a locality develop Links with schools
in a Southern country locality. These can be successful because of the
mutual support they bring. Teaching ideas tried and tested in one school
can be shared. This saves continually re-inventing the wheel!
Information about these and grants for developing them can found in the
Funding Section.
