Comenius Project

Churston Ferrers Grammar School is participating in a British Council sponsored project, the Comenius Partnership, in conjunction with three other European countries – Finland, Spain and Estonia.

The aim of the project, which runs over two full academic years, is to look at the manner in which the four participating countries are addressing climate change and how schools in these countries can prepare their students and wider communities to adapt to the changing life-styles and future work opportunities

Students – mainly from Years 7 and 8 - will participate in a variety of activities, ranging from e-twinning students in the other schools during Modern Foreign Language lessons, through research investigations into the concepts and dynamics of climate change, evaluating each other’s ecological footprints and running an on-line forum. Year 1 will culminate in an action plan for Year 2 and a media presentation, to be presented also to the wider community, on the findings of the first year and the opportunities within Europe as a result of the challenges of climate change.

The second year will build on the findings of the previous year and one of the aims is to encourage students in ‘learning to learn’ strategies.

Churston Ferrers Grammar School is the lead school for this project. David Lewis, Director of Humanities, who will be fronting the project for the school, is enthusiastic about the challenges that Comenius will offer to both students and staff. “This project will challenge our community to learn about how we will need to adapt in the future because of climate change. It will also provide opportunities for staff and students to work closely with our European neighbours. This cultural experience will add an extra dimension to everyone’s learning.”

The school has established links with four European schools (in Estonia, Finland, Romania and Spain) and has submitted an application, with these schools, to carry out a cross-curricular Comenius project on climate change. This is part of our Humanities College work.

Comenius is a body within the European Union that provides funding to schools to carry out multilateral projects with the aim of building cultural awareness and strengthening lifelong learning.

 

Representatives from the five schools met in Helsinki, Finland from 23-27 January 2008 to draft an innovative and exciting application that will allow up to 24 staff and students from Churston to travel to the four countries over the duration of the two-year project.

The preparatory meeting was an exciting and invigorating time, providing the opportunity to visit schools in Helsinki and Talinn (Estonia) and to learn about the fascinating differences between school life in the UK and the Nordic countries. You might be surprised to know, for example, that in Finland and Estonia pupils can eat their lunch at 10 am, finishing their day at 1.45pm, or that they break up for a ten-week summer holiday at the beginning of June to make the most of the summer light!

 

It was most refreshing to talk with teachers whose enthusiasm and unique national perspectives enabled the drafting of an innovative application, firmly rooted in the principles of independent learning.

Churston and the other European schools will hear in June whether or not the application has been successful.

DGL