Global Dimension
Clayton CE and Clayton Village Primary School
are located in Clayton Village in Bradford. The schools are
situated within walking distance from each other and the children
and families share many local amenities. Both schools are mixed in
population and are experiencing changes in their population.
Linking two schools so close together is
proving to be a beneficial way to make connections between the two
schools, creating one community in Clayton Village with shared
interests and common goals.
These two schools work on the model of linking
with another school. Their focus group is their school councils,
working across the age groups from Year 2 up to Year 6. Their
project focus is exploring the Global Dimension.
This year the project began by exploring
issues of identity and diversity within their own schools. They
then sent identity boxes to each other as a way of introducing
themselves to their link school. To follow this up the teachers
explored the received identity boxes and looked at common interests
and differences between the two groups.
Over the year the schools have had a number of meetings to
explore the rich diversity of their shared community. They have
worked with Gail Smith from Leeds DEC to look at issues of human
rights within their immediate shared community and globally. This
raised discussion about refugees and the children engaged in
workshops to investigate stories and facts and myths about refugees
and asylum seekers. The children have become ambassadors for their
school and have shared their learning with their class members
through activities and newsletters.
The year ended with a drama performance
directed by Luke Broughton called A Diary of a Refugee based on the
story of Gervelie a refugee girl from the Congo. This took place
for parents at Theatre in the Mill and the turn-out was
overwhelming. Parents from the two schools came together as a
community to celebrate the success of their children and enjoyed a
relaxed evening with refreshments.
The schools have already begun making plans for next year
and plan to run the performance again in the new academic year for
the children at both schools. Both schools intend to further embed
the Global Dimension within their curriculum and aim to achieve the
Yorkshire and Humber Global Schools Award. They also plan on
setting up a second link between the two schools to run in parallel
with the school council link. This group of children will be a
press group responsible for a shared community newsletter.
Quotes from parents
“I am amazed at the confidence of my daughter
in the performance and in chatting with the Clayton CE children.
She is usually so shy!” Mum
“I think the project is a fantastic idea,
particularly as our schools are so close together. The children
really have become one group.” Dad
“The performance was really moving. It is
great our children are coming together to learn about issues that
affect our community and the world.” Mum
“To be honest I thought this was wasting my
son’s time and I didn’t get why he had to work with the other
school. We chose to send him to this school for a reason. But I
can’t believe how much he knew about refugees and also how well he
had got on with the boys he met. “ Mum
Quotes from children
“Teamwork is very helpful and I’ve learned to
work as a team with children from Clayton Village.” Year 5
boy, Clayton CE
“The children from CE were really funny! I
didn’t think they would be but they were!” Year 4 girl, Clayton
Village
“I’ve met lots of new friends from Clayton
Village but also it was good to work with different year groups in
my own school. They are all cooler than I thought.” Year 6 boy,
Clayton CE
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