Page 15 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • May 2010 15
Teachers make links with schools in the land of the rising sun

Peatmoor Community Primary is one of five schools in Swindon taking part in a British Council funded project to reach out to the other side
of the world and establish connections with schools in Japan.
Year 5 teacher Sarah Adams Swindon are planning many activi-
joined staff from Greendown, ties to share with their new Japanese
Isambard, Oliver Tomkins Junior friends over the coming year.
School and Lawn Primary in a “The children have written letters
week-long visit to Kyoto on the introducing themselves, after see-
island of Honshu. They met local ing my photographs and videos,”
educationalists and dignitaries said Sarah.
and shared presentations about the “They were surprised by how
different approaches to teaching. Japanese children sit: around the
“The people we met were lovely school are posters demonstrating
and we learnt so much which will the correct way - both feet flat on
benefit our children,” said Sarah. the floor, straight back, hands in lap,
Peatmoor has now established head forward. At their desks they
links with Yamada Elementary sit in this way, they don’t need to
school in the small town of Yosano. be told, they just do it.
Sarah and her colleagues across “Our children were amazed that
Janet Takeuchi, who runs the Japanese Language Club at Greendown School,
the Japanese pupils are responsible in a classroom at Koyo Junior High School
for cleaning their school. This is
something to be discussed by school much based on core principles,”
council. said Sarah. “We’re going to do Janet
“The Japanese children have reports to show how people live
a great deal of respect for their and work here. And we’re planning Mosley
teachers. Even with the excitement a big exchange of artwork before
of visitors from abroad, they knew Christmas.
when to calm down. Within an “We hope to create a greater ClassiCal
instant, they returned to their work awareness of Japan in the wider
on the teacher’s request.” community, as well as encourage Guitar
Sarah said teaching methods rely global education and an apprecia-
on a great deal of whole class work, tion of cultural diversity lessons
or using text books, and copying “My pupils told me all about
from the blackboard. There was also their trip in March to Stanton House for all ages
little evidence of technology use in Hotel whilst I was away. They loved
the classroom, except in a secondary learning a little Japanese and trying
school with a large computer suite. the cuisine.” Tel: 01793 873743
Sarah Adams making links in Japan. “It was a breath of fresh air to • See a longer article with more pho- Mobile: 07597 119630
Photo: Nick Bartlett see simple teaching methods very tographs at www.swindonlink.com

‘A Quality Education

for a Lifetime of Opportunities’

Broad Hinton Church of England Primary School is a village school situated in a favourable
rural area a few miles south-west of Swindon. We were founded in 1743 by Thomas Bennet
and taken over by the LEA about 100 years later.
Over recent years we have extended our facilities to accommodate four mixed-age classes,
a large hall where hot meals are served, a multi-purpose unit housing a pre-school facility and
a conservatory area for individual or small group teaching, including a multi-sensory learning
library for parents and carers to access resources for learning at home.
Everyone knows each other throughout the school, from the oldest to the very youngest,
staff, parents and children alike, giving us a warm family atmosphere. Our professional and
enthusiastic staff provide a safe and secure environment and a creative and stimulating
curriculum.
Due to family relocations, we have the opportunity to accept children
in year groups throughout the school and you are warmly invited
to make an appointment to visit us.
Please call Mrs E Floyd, Headteacher on 01793 731262 to arrange a time.
www.broadhintonschool.org
Positive comments about Broad Hinton Primary:
‘A good school which prides itself on the good care, support and guidance it provides for the pupils.
Teachers provide stimulating activities that enthuse and excite the pupils’
‘Pupils demonstrate very good levels of confidence and very good skills in independence, self-management and team work’ OFSTED July 2007
‘The school is an incredibly caring community where pupils know how to give and ask for support. Parents feel valued and welcomed and there are
good and effective links with the local church.’ Church of England Inspection July 2007

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