BOSBURY Primary has forged a new partnership with Tara Primary School in Rwanda as part of Connecting Classrooms, a unique global education programme.

The hope is that the hands across the sea link will help to prepare young people for life and work in the 21st century; and it opens the door for Bosbury teachers to visit and teach at Tara.

There is also the possibility of online teaching and collaborative projects, using the internet.

Maggie Spence Head teacher from Bosbury CE Primary said, “At last we will be able to make face to face links with Tara.

"The first links were set up years ago with the help of Mary Watkins who works for Welsh Water. She has grown our understanding of the school with many talks to the children and is in Rwanda presently supporting our partnership. We are very excited.

"Bosbury School is taking part in the programme because of its commitment to preparing students to become well-rounded, truly global citizens."

The Connecting Classrooms project is run in more than 30 countries by the British Council in partnership with the Department for International Development. It equips teachers with the knowledge and techniques "to teach young people the skills they need to live and work in an increasingly globalised economy".

A spokesman said: "The programme enables teachers not only to teach these ‘21st century core skills’ to children in their classroom, but also to visit partner schools in other countries to exchange insights and ideas on how to improve teaching and learning in their schools."

On hearing the news that Bosbury School has successfully applied to take part in the Connecting Classrooms professional partnership visit, Sir Ciarán Devane, CEO of the British Council, said:

‘I am delighted that Bosbury School in Herefordshire is taking on this excellent opportunity to develop their professional practice by collaborating with teachers from Rwanda and the UK.

"Their commitment to equip young people with skills and understanding for life and work in an increasingly global economy is to be commended."

For the last two years, in fact, children have been learning about Tara with some classes sending letters and gifts. Bosbury CE Primary school have been raising money to buy a computer for the school, and also musical instruments.

Sue Walker teacher from Bosbury CE Primary said, “Through the support from Connecting Classrooms we will now be able to extend our partnership work with Tara through extending our daily instrumental work at Bosbury to our link Rwandan school. “

Connecting Classrooms will enable a leader and staff member to take part in a visit to share their experiences and success in teaching and implementing the core skills in their own curriculum. The visit will also provide a platform for success to be shared more widely, which may influence education policy and strategy at a local and national level.