Who Do We Think We Are? A Cultural Heritage Project Erasmus Project

Project Title

Who Do We Think We Are? A Cultural Heritage Project

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Cultural heritage/European Year of Cultural Heritage; Inclusion – equity; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning

Project Summary

“Who Do We Think We Are?” came about as a joint project between 6 primary schools, 4 in the UK and 2 in Spain, because we wanted to help our children understand themselves, the changing world they live in and their place in it, through a series of intercultural experiences.The coordinating organisation is Bromet School, Watford, UK. We are asking for funding for a two year project which will consist of five exchanges in year one (2 teacher and 3 pupil exchanges) and four exchanges in year two (1 teacher and 3 pupil exchanges)

The teacher exchanges will be an opportunity for teachers to work in a new context and culture, to share good practice and resources leading to improved teaching and learning across all schools. It is also our opportunity to work together on the agreed topics outlined in our timetable and to exchange ideas and experiences regarding their delivery. It is equally a chance for teachers to improve their language skills aiding their delivery of MFL. Teachers will stay with a colleague from the partner school and experience the life of the school by attending lessons, meetings and other extra-curricular activities.

The pupil exchanges will give pupils an opportunity to improve their language skills whilst meeting the children they have been working with on their projects over the course of the year. It will broaden their horizons and take their learning out of the classroom giving them real life experiences. It will give them an opportunity to use the language they have learnt in school in a real life, meaningful context so improving their competence and confidence in MFL. It will give them a more positive attitude towards other cultures and countries and raise their self esteem. Pupils will attend partner school each morning, so experiencing the lessons and daily routines of the school, and in the afternoon they will visit sites of educational interest with their partners.

In the first year 2 teachers from each UK school will visit Spain. Each teacher exchange will bring together 3 different schools and will take place in February 2019.The first pupil exchanges from the UK to Spain will take place in May 2019. In this first year, two UK schools will take 15 children and 4 staff to Tenerife and the other two UK schools will take 15 children and 4 staff to Cordoba. In June 2019 Tenerife will visit the UK with 30 children and 8 staff. In the second year, two teachers from each Spanish school will visit the UK and this teacher exchange will bring together all 6 schools and will take place in October 2019. The second pupil exchange from the UK to Spain will take place in May 2020. In this second year each UK school will take 15 children and 4 staff to visit the partner school in Spain that they have not yet visited. Then in June 2020 Cordoba will visit the UK with 30 children and 8 staff.

Our objectives are to improve MFL results, increase the motivation, confidence and competences of teachers, share best practice and improve teaching and learning.

Our pupils will gain a knowledge of our shared national heritage whilst celebrating the rich and diverse heritage represented in different communities both here and abroad. The provision of first hand experiences of life in another country will make them aware of similarities and differences in lifestyles and cultures and enhance intercultural awareness and understanding.

Our objectives will be achieved by the pupil and teacher exchanges and will also benefit the wider school and local community who will be included and involved at every stage through the events and activities planned to feed in to and support the visits. Each school will also host which will involve their wider communities. The planned activities take us from first looking at ourselves, involving our extended families (who are we and how did we get here?) to visiting and discovering our local area and history, building a sense of pride as well as a sense of belonging. All our activities will be undertaken with a paired class in one of our partner schools so that we can share as well as compare and contrast our experiences. We will hold annual “celebration” events for families and the local community and these will involve partner schools through shared videos and presentations and also joint events during our educational exchanges. In addition we have a programme of CPD for staff and training and learning opportunities for adults in our wider communities.

As well as improving educational opportunities and increasing language skills, we believe this project will result in our children and our staff participating in life-changing experiences. This will broaden their outlook and change the way they look at themselves and others.
Our children will see how our similarities outnumber our differences and how we can learn from each other in so many ways. Within our wider communities we wish to foster respect, tolerance, inclusion and a sense of well-being and belonging.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 118709,78 Eur

Project Coordinator

Bromet Primary School & Country: UK

Project Partners

• Parkgate Junior School
• Holywell Primary School
• British School of Tenerife
• Oxheywood Primary School
• Victoria Díez