Primary and secondary schools form links to other institutions, both within the UK and internationally, to promote community cohesion.

Community Cohesion through School Partnerships

Bradford schools tackle community cohesion internationally

Schools in Bradford show how a three project with schools in Peshawar, Pakistan, have helped promote community cohesion. Teacher exchanges have been followed by developments in teaching, learning and the curriculum. Extended services and engagement have been addressed through collaboration across the Bradford schools and with other diverse communities in the UK. The projects focus on themes such as the outdoor classroom and cultural heritage and achieve an international dimension through email, skype, text messaging as well as the exchange of pupils' work between Bradford and Peshawar schools. There is also a look at how UK schools are developing video conferencing to allow pupils to share lessons and eventually work directly with the schools in Peshawar. This programme was filmed in association with the British Council.

City Challenges

Elderly people and young refugees working together in Bristol

Students from the City Academy Bristol, who are refugees or asylum seekers, work hand in hand with a group of elderly people on a joint project to benefit the whole community.The young pupils who may have little or no English, work with the older volunteers in pairs to design and create a mosaic for the Trinity Community Centre, with guidance from artist Victoria Appleton. The activity encourages communication between the two groups to improve the language skills of the students and to bring representatives from old and new communities of Bristol together, helping to break down barriers and build positive relationships.

Cross-Generation Art in Bristol

Promoting community cohesion within primary and secondary schools

Find out what approaches a primary and secondary school use to encourage and promote community cohesion. At Allerton Primary School, Bradford, headteacher Sharon Lambert promotes community cohesion by welcoming parents into the school. Teacher, Meg Henry, and TA, Nelofar Khan, also plan a lesson on identity. At secondary school Breeze Hill in Oldham, head Bernard Phillips uses creative projects, such as drumming classes, to bring students from different backgrounds and cultures together. To help EAL students settle in, new student supporters are recruited, as well as other staff members to create a community atmosphere within the school.

Good Practice in Two Schools

Pupils from semi-rural and urban schools work together in pairs

Year 5 pupils from Thornton Primary, a semi-rural school in West Yorkshire embark on their first visit to partner school Barkerend Primary in Bradford city centre. The visit is part of a year-long linking project exploring the theme of identity, supported by the Schools Linking Network. Working in pairs, the children consider the similarities and differences between each other and their schools, eventually collaborating to design their ideal school. Back at Thornton, class teacher Angela Lodge organises a reflective discussion with a small group of her pupils at the end of the day. The Schools Linking Network began six years ago in Bradford, and is now embarking on a national programme to support other local authorities across the UK in establishing sustainable and effective linking programmes.

Primary School Linking in Bradford

Community cohesion is addressed through international links

Primary schools in rural Hampshire show how international links with schools in South Africa and Kenya have helped build community cohesion. During the three year project teacher exchanges have been followed by teaching, learning and curriculum developments. The impact on individual teachers, their schools, and inter-school working has been profound. An initial focus on addressing stereotypes has enabled these largely mono-ethnic school communities to encounter different cultures and engage with diversity through their international links. The schools have tracked changes in attitude and found many positive outcomes. Pupils have both more balanced viewpoints and are able to "deal with difference" with greater confidence. Now they are providing extended services and engagement by forging links with schools representing diverse communities in the UK. This programme was filmed in association with the British Council.

Professional Development for Quality Teaching

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City Challenges

Cross-Generation Art in Bristol

Good Practice in Two Schools

Primary School Linking in Bradford

Rural Challenges