“Stop Press News: the College has been successful in its EU Comenius “Green Spaces” bid and joins four other countries (Slovakia, Germany, Finland and Belgium) in this exciting new project.”

The College is proud to have been recently granted an
International School Award by the British Council.

The Award – at Intermediate Level – recognises breadth of activity and existing good practice in building international work.

Some Planned and Previous Activity:

The highly popular annual ski visits, organised by Mr. Uffindall. The fifth annual Ski Trip this year is to Flachau, Austria (22.3.08 to 5.4.08). One week is for 6th Formers; one week for pre-16 students. 180 students in total will be taking part. Many have used the new Fitness Suite to prepare. This follows 5 A level students who travelled to the French Alps for PE assessment in skiing in February 2008.

Through the work of Mr. Lumley, the College has good vocational links with two schools in France: Lycée Professionnel Jean Rostand (Angouleme); and Lycée Professional Le Dolmen (Poitiers).

Up to 11 French students at a time have stayed with families in the Northallerton area, for up to four weeks. This is popular with our students, especially those who are studying French for whom the additional language opportunity has a direct and positive impact.

We have also helped our two French schools to find the necessary work placements here for their students who need the work experience time in England to complete their studies in say, Accountancy, Secretarial or Reception Studies.

Mrs. Phipps and Mr. Martin organised a visit to Berlin a year ago. The itinerary included: time with the host families; an excursion, which included a guided tour of Berlin and the historic centre – the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden, Bebelplatz, Deutsches Historiches Museum, Checkpoint Charlie, ‘Topography of terror’ Museum and final remnants of The Wall; an excursion and guided bus tour to Potsdam, Sanssouci Palace and Park, Altstadt, Brandenburg Gate; and shopping in Brandenburger Str. and in KaDeWe – Europe’s largest department store.
 

For a number of years the College has enjoyed very good music-based links with California through the efforts of Mr. Firth and various visits and exchanges have taken place with Hemet High School.

Up to 40 Modern Foreign Languages students benefit from Mrs. Lewis’s home-stay visits to northern France each year, when the focus is on total language immersion.

A small group of college students in conjunction with NYCC Youth Service visited Malawi in 2006.

Another small group of students took a Youth Trip to Ghana in November 2007, in conjunction with the New Life Baptist Church. This was project work at the ‘Home of Hope’ orphanage and Feyef International School for local children in Bortiarnor, Ghana.

The College is preparing to work in partnership with local churches through the HOPE 08 initiative which also links into local primary schools.

A outline link with Botswana, through Mr. Starkey, will attempt to focus on Cultural Diversity and the Global Dimension to the Curriculum. External funding for three students to visit and participate in this school-to-school initiative has already been secured.

Through partnership with the Thirsk-based charity, School Twinning Friends (Mrs. Jill Gillanders) a link with Nsongwe Basic School in Zambia has been established. College COPE students have established a Pen-pals scheme for Year 10 students to participate in and the first exchange of individual pen-pal letters is underway.

Global School Partnership: a Sri Lankan school has just been identified through the British Council for us to link up with: Hambantota Vidyalaya. An exciting combination of Cricket and Dance appear to be the themes for partnership working!

A pan-European EU Comenius ‘Green Spaces’ project partnership has recently been developed through work by Mr. Martin. The project will Compare and contrast the way landscape-use has changed in Belgium, England, Germany, Finland and Slovakia, through curricular and cross-curricula activities.

The project will promote understanding of different cultural heritage and facilitate the sharing of good practice in teaching and learning of horticulture, the sciences, geography, history, politics, languages, arts, design technology, environment, enterprise, community interaction, sports and outdoor education.
 

A work experience / vocational education link with Belgium is also being established through the EU’s Leonardo da Vinci funding. This relates to the health area of our curriculum and is entitled: “Taking Care of You”.