Reciprocal relationship - are you in an inner city primary?

[lazarusinNazareth]

We are a large, mainly white British primary on the south coast and to promote our community cohesion we would like to build a relationship with a culturally diverse inner city primary school. If anyone is interested in exploring this further please let me know. Thank you.

Bumping this, because I think it is a brilliant idea. DS school is thinking about doing this, but we are richish suburbs, so wouldn't be ideal as a "twin" to you. What kind of things are you thinking of doing together?
A couple of ideas we have had so far:

• Sharing stuff like sainsbury's active vouchers. (our school gets TONS, and ends up getting new play stuff every year; we have passed some to a "twin" school in Africa in the past)
• Doing a "school trip" to each other's schools, could cover geography/RE/nature topics. Obviously not the whole school at once (!)
• PTA getting in touch and swapping left-over gifts from school fairs; we ended up with too many Santa presents this year, and you can't really bring them out again year after year.
• Sending representatives to Sports Day, or to school counsil meetings.

Whoops. School Council isn't it? Don't know what came over me there.

Thanks Choccy, you have some really good ideas there. Unfortunately it doesn't look like your school would fit our requirements as you mention. We would like to exchange information about different cultures, religions and ways of life (our school is mainly white and C of E so it can be difficult to bring some differences to life). We like the idea of visits too and supporting each other in positive ways.Thanks for your positive thoughts. :)

This happens within our LEA. There is a scheme where schools in the "suburbs" are linked with those in the inner city and the pupils and teachers meet together and exchange ideas.

A good starting point would be your nearest large city or town or find out if there is a scheme already running in your LEA.

Lazarusinnazareth it all depends on how far you want to spread your wings
I am a parent at proberbly the biggest and most succesful multi cultural school (primary) in the north east. This school is second to none for the commitment shown to children from all countries around the world , out of over 400+ children we have approx 30+ different nationalities here. I am sure your school would benefit from a relationship with this school , we have also had visits to the school by children from BELARUS nr Chernobyl. If this is of interest to you and your school I will provide you with the school e-mail and you could contact them directly.

daddydaycare51- you sound very promising and I would love to take your offer further. If you could let me have the school's e-mail I will pass it on to our Head, thank you!

crazymum 53- thanks for your idea but we wanted to venture further IYKWIM. We are already linked to a school in Sierra Leone but wanted one a bit closer to home too.

Hi lazarusinnazareth sorry for delay getting back to you I have the schools website address where you can get some information and also the e-mail address for the school.

I hope this is of help to you and I am certain that the children of both schools will enjoy learning about each other.

abingdonprimary.org.uk e-mail addresses are on the site ok.

I have spoken to the Deputy head teacher on the subject and she is keen on the idea and will look forward to hearing from Head.

Well now thats done it will be up to the schools to develope it further . ( I feel like a matchmaker )

By the way my name is Glenn and they do know me well at the school. So have fun.

Thank you daddydaycare, I was stupidly excited by your response the other day. Many thanks for your help. Hopefully this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship! If I ever get the opportunity, I will reward you with a bottle of wine! Happy Christmas

Your thanks is enough. Have a wonderful christmas and new year.

Sorry- back again! Can you give the Deputy Head's name please? I have looked on the net but can only find the Head's name. I would ring the school but as it's the weekend.... Thanks again!

Hello Again Her name is Moira Ross she was the person That I mentioned it to ok.

Thank you