We’re all people!

We’re delighted that the success of the first year of the Schools Linking programme in Wales has begun to be shared. The Linking Network are proud to be funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and they have been sharing the story of how Schools Linking has been received in Wales.

“I’ve enjoyed meeting new people and making new friends, and doing that helps make the world better.”

Dylan, a year 4 pupil at Ysgol Pencae in Llandaf, is one of hundreds of schoolchildren involved in a project to boost connections beween children from across Cardiff who might not ordinarily mix.

Run by The Linking Network charity in partnership with Cardiff Council, with funding from The National Lottery Community Fund and Pears Foundation, the project links two year 4 classes from different schools over the course of an academic year.

The project aims to bring children together from different backgrounds to learn more about each other. This includes children from different socio-economic backgrounds, ethnic or religious backgrounds, and in different parts of the city.

This year it’s brought together 12 schools from across the city to connect pupils from different backgrounds.

The schools exchange work, visit one another, and are given opportunities to bond. The partnership between schools helps children find connection, make new friends, and understand difference.

To help bond and build connections, the children used artwork facilitated by Cardiff artist Beth Morris Workshops to introduce themselves to their new friends and to share their unique personalities. Each child sent a miniature version of themselves through the post, meaning that envelopes filled with new faces, stories and potential friendships arrived in classrooms across the city.

The artwork made will now be on display as part of a free exhibition at Insole Court in Fairwater running throughout the summer holidays.

‘A big bear hug’

Creigiau Primary, a dual-stream bilingual school in a quiet village on the outskirts of Cardiff, is another school involved in the work.

Creigiau was paired with Severn Primary, an inner-city school with a huge variety in children’s backgrounds and 53 spoken languages.

Creigiau teacher Eleri Evans says the project has given ‘rich opportunities’ to pupils.

“We’re based on the outskirts of Cardiff. We wanted to look at how we could develop pupils’ understanding of the diversity in our city.

‘We’ve linked with Severn Primary school, a diverse school with 53 languages, which was a bit of a surprise to our pupils. But when we went out to meet them it was lovely to see that all the children were so accepting of everyone, even though they knew we were all different there were no barriers there. They just see them as children, as friends, and are comfortable in the company of others.

“My standout memory was our third visit to our partner school. The pupils went straight in, noticed their new friends, and gave them a big bear hug. And I thought, that’s connection. It gives me shivers now thinking about it. How lovely that they‘d only spent a short amount of time together, but they’d made those connections.”

‘We’re all people’

For Théo, a pupil at Severn Primary School, it helped recognise simarilties with others: “It helped me realise that we’re all people, and we have the same interests – it’s not all black and white.”

Amanda Waring, a teacher at Severn Primary, said it was a good opportunity for her pupils to meet children from a different environment.

‘One of my children said that one of our linking days was the best day of her life. And when they all came to write their end of year report where they reflect on their year, over half of them talked about this project as a highlight.

‘It’s helped them gain confidence, make new friends, and to see that other children are different but we have all similarities.’

Ysgol Gynradd Pencae Head teacher Siwan Dafydd said the project has helped children understand that Cardiff is a diverse city.

“We were paired with St Mary The Virgin School which is in a totally different area, and their learning experiences are totally different too, especially as we’re a Welsh medium school, even though we’re in the same city. But during all the activities throughout the year, pupils have been allowed to just be children, enjoying each other’s company, regardless of their backgrounds. It’s such a great way to show children that Cardiff is a city that celebrates diversity.”

According to her counterpart Nicky Pritchard at St Mary the Virgin school in Butetown, one of Cardiff’s most diverse areas, the children have found it easy to make new friends.

“It’s really important for children to meet other children, because we come into spaces as adults with so many preconceptions, and nobody will talk to each other – but children are great, they’ll make new friends, without being bothered about where others are from or what they do, they just become friends.

“When we welcomed Pencae to St Mary’s, and the children were the hosts, they were so proud to show our school off… to see that confidence growing in them was really special, and wouldn’t have happened with a project that wasn’t as practical or real as this.

“What I’ve seen is children developing skills they wouldn’t have developed without the project… taking themselves out of their comfort zones but in a really safe way.”

Meg Henry, from the The Linking Network charity, added:

“We know the impact that can be made when hundreds of children build curiosity, understanding and belonging through shared and joyful experiences of Schools Linking – they then share their story of how we can all live well together across their school, families and communities.

“The funding from The National Lottery Community Fund has allowed us to really think about the ripple effect out to the wider communities of the 26,000 children taking part in the 28 areas of England and Wales where there are local Schools Linking Programmes. The support, engagement and interest in our goal of helping children experience connection and belonging through Schools Linking has been fantastic.”

‘You can still become friends’

Sofia and Rose, both pupils at St Mary the Virgin school, reflected on their involvement in the project.

“My favourite things were making new friends, getting to see their school, and eating lunch together! Even if you don’t know someone you can still become friends with them.”

Rose said that she was ‘really nervous’ at their first meeting with Ysgol Pencae but then became ‘best friends’.

“I learnt we should be kind to each other, and to not judge people – being nice is what’s important.”