‘Thanks – don’t ever stop doing this!’

This was the heartfelt feedback from one teacher in Calderdale, attending this year’s first Schools Linking teacher training meeting of the new academic year. So far, over 260 teachers have attended 17 of these sessions across England – both face to face and online. There has been a real buzz in the training rooms as teachers meet their Schools Linking partners and prepare for a new journey with their children.

As well as enabling teachers to meet and plan together, a key priority of the Schools Linking training is to ensure that all those leading on the programme have a clear understanding of the research and principles underpinning the process. Whilst over 80% of the schools involved this year have linked before, 60% of the teachers leading it in the classroom are new to the programme. It is therefore crucial that there is an appreciation of the depth which lies behind Schools Linking. An important part of the training is provided by Dr Lindsey Cameron of the University of Kent who shares her insights with attendees from her research on intergroup contact via video.

One teacher in Bradford fed back, ‘This is my first experience of linking [with another] school and I found the training very helpful and resourceful. I am able to go back more confident in what I need to do.’

Teachers are taken through The Linking Network resources which they will need to run the programme, but also introduced to a range of other resources which will help enhance their Schools Linking. For example, The British Library, as part of their Step Inside Your Story programme, has created a set of resources specifically for linking teachers to use with their children. This includes inspiring videos from authors such as Joseph Coelho and Malorie Blackman, modelling how to put themselves at the heart of their own zig-zag book in order to explore the Who am I? question in their linking journey. Also importantly, there is a step-by-step guide which demonstrates the art of how to actually make a zig-zag or concertina book!

In Luton, the teachers gathered at Stockwood Discovery Centre where neutral venue visits will be held later in the Year. Staff from the centre took them on a tour of the site and demonstrated the collaborative activities their children would be taking part in.

This year, as well as all the resource sharing and planning, time was given for teachers to reflect on the impact of the events over the summer when racist riots took place in many communities. Teachers felt that the Schools Linking programme was needed now more than ever alongside promoting their school values such as respect and understanding. The opportunity Linking provides for children to connect and meet new people in a safe and fun way, helps them develop greater confidence in their own identity and importantly, become comfortable with difference – a crucial positive experience from which to draw later in life.

Our 25 local areas are always interested in talking to new schools about Schools Linking.  If you’re in one of our areas get in touch to find out more.