Bristol schools link up

Bristol is leading the way in developing links between schools in different parts of the city.

The first schools to take part in a £35,000 pilot scheme for the School Linking Network say it has proved highly successful.

The idea is to provide opportunities for children from different ethnic, cultural, social and religious backgrounds to meet.

Schools involved are: Gay Elms and Hillcrest; St Mathias and Dr Bells and St Anne's Park Primary; Cheddar Grove and St Michael's on the Mount and Burnbush; Fonthill Primary and Summerhill Junior; Parson Street Primary and Oldbury Court; Knowle Park and Ashley Down Juniors; Monks Park and Bristol Metropolitan College.

At an event at the Council House, children told how they had explored their differences and discovered their many similarities through activities including Bangra dancing, tasting food from different cultures, storytelling and poetry.

Cabinet councillor for children Clare Campion-Smith said: "By sharing in joint activities that celebrate diversity, children from different parts of the city are learning to look beyond stereotypes.

"It is essential we encourage children to be open minded about different cultures, faiths and ways of life, taking away the barriers that can lead to racism and intolerance.

"Schools have real influence on community issues within and beyond the school gates."

Project director Angie Kotler said the work carried out in Bristol this year would pave the way for similar projects in other parts of the country. "The Schools Linking Network supports schools in the exploration of identity and diversity within the curriculum," she said.

"Teachers engage in reflective practice with pupils to consider how their exciting linking experiences affect their attitudes and understanding.

"This supports schools in their duty to contribute to community cohesion."

The Council House also celebrated schools achieving the Bristol Inclusion Standard. These were Christ Church Primary, Elmlea Infants, Chester Park Juniors, Easton CE Primary, Cotham School, Redland Green School, Whitehall Primary, St Bonaventure's Catholic Primary and Gay Elms Primary.

Gay Elms received a special award from Support Against Racial Incidents (Sari) for gaining the inclusion standard and being involved in the network project.

It was the first winner of the Respect Shield, for showing excellence in equalities and promoting respect between different communities, established by Sari in memory of the late St George Labour councillor John Deasy.

For the School Link project, Year 5 children from Gay Elms emailed others at Hillcrest then went together to Blaise Castle and visited each others' school.

Gay Elms head teacher Annette Osborne said: "The work undertaken this year on both projects has enabled us to extend and formalise our whole-school ethos to the benefit of not only everyone at Gay Elms Primary but also within the wider community."