Our International Links
We are fortunate to be part of an Erasmus project that links us with St Julian’s Church School in Wellow, and schools in France, Catalonia (Spain), Denmark and Northern Ireland. Our current project is called 'Build a Better World'.
The substantial Erasmus+ grant funding awarded enables the 6 schools to work collaboratively on activities highlighting the need for global tolerance, understanding and awareness about environmental issues. We are all implementing small changes within our school communities that collectively make a positive impact.
Through our cross curricular project work we develop our skills in Global Citizenship and PSHE, ICT, English, Mathematics, MFL, Science, Arts and Outdoor Learning.
All pupils and staff in our school communities are involved in the project.
Each year our oldest pupils and some staff have the amazing opportunity to travel to visit our partner schools. They work on project related activities, together with hosting schools and all other visiting partners, whilst also experiencing at first hand different cultures, languages, and education systems.
2022-23 visits
October – mobility to Bordeaux
March – mobility to Belfast
June – mobility to Arden
October – mobility here in the UK
International links have been a particularly strong focus at our school for many years. Shoscombe has been the coordinating school for several successful EU funded Comenius Partnership projects, linking our school with our current partners and also others in Spain, Southern Ireland and Greece. These links have enabled pupils and teachers to learn about the language and culture of other countries in Europe. There have been many opportunities for the older children to travel to partner schools and for pupils of all ages to undertake project work linked to project aims back at our schools.
Funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union
In September 2016 Shoscombe was reaccredited with the Full International School Award for the third time. We first achieved this award back in 2010.
Below are some of the assessor comments reflecting on our international work over the past 3 years
‘Your school has been clearly committed to embedding the international dimension across the school in the last 3 years, …You have established partnerships with schools in the UK and Europe, and provide teachers and pupils with opportunities to enhance their global horizons. Your teachers ensure that pupils learn through a wide range of stimulating activities, which promote their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, and they have enhanced their CPD through meeting teachers from partner schools abroad, observing different pedagogical methods, and being immersed in their local language and culture. Your international work has had great impact on the learning and engagement of pupils, improving their language, ICT and social skills, broadening their international dimension and increasing their motivation and confidence. Parents, the local community and everyone at Shoscombe are kept informed of your international work through newsletters, the school website and newsfeeds, displays in the school hall and classrooms, and by attending events at school. A number of families also host pupils from your partner schools abroad when they visit your school, and are involved in visit events in school…… In your ambassadorial role you have been the coordinating school for several successful Comenius projects, and have mentored/supported your link UK partner school in international work….Your international work has highlighted, e.g. the similarities and differences amongst people in the world, and the opportunities for global themed cross-curricular work, which increase pupil attainment in different subject areas. Your future plans include maintaining your international links, developing new links with the Dragonfly academy chain that your school is about to join, and continuing to provide an enriched education for your pupils that broadens awareness and knowledge of globalisation.