Ballyclare High School is set to develop global links

Ballyclare High School is among four schools from Northern Ireland that have been selected to develop international links with schools from across the world as part of a major new school-twinning project to boost global education.

Connecting Classrooms is a UK government and British Council education initiative and Ballyclare High has been selected in recognition of its commitment to teaching students about global issues.

The programme will enable teachers to take part in an exchange visit with their partnership school and to work on classroom-based projects together, with the aim of giving young people a unique and hands-on international learning experience.

Because of a reciprocal grant, representatives from that school will also visit Northern Ireland.

The school could be working alongside others from South Africa, Uganda and Saudi Arabia as part of the programme.

Avril McKay, vice-principal of Ballyclare High School, said the project provided opportunities to broaden links beyond Europe and give young people the skills, attitudes and behaviours needed to develop mutual understandings with different cultures.

She said: “Activities will give the pupils the opportunity to explore cultural heritage and consider their role as a responsible global citizen.

“Stereotypes and myths regarding their counterparts, which the pupils may hold, can be dispelled through this type of programme which can broaden their horizons and further an international dimension to their learning, resulting in increased awareness and understanding through a meaningful programme of cultural dialogue.”