Algeria meets Hackney in school exchange programme

Algerian representative meets Our Lady and St Joseph’s pupils

It was all about a meeting of cultures at Hackney schools earlier this month, as Algerian teachers paid a visit to schools across the borough as part of a broader international exchange programme.

Four teachers and educational representatives from the North African country ventured to Hackney as part of the British Council’s Connecting Classrooms programme.

They met their opposite numbers in Hackney schools, with a view to working in close partnership for the next three years and thus contributing on a local level to international dialogue.

The Hackney visitors, who are part of a larger group of school employees visiting from the North Africa region, arrived after a series of London workshops earlier in the week.

In these sessions, Algerian and British teachers worked alongside UK local authority representatives to learn how to create a successful school partnership.

Building on this preparation, the visitors ventured into Hackney schools to get to know students, sit in on lessons and plan joint activities to be developed together in the coming years.

Local schools participating in the scheme included Queensbridge, Sebright, Randal Cremer and De Beauvoir primary schools, as well as Haggerston School and Bridge Academy.

Sarah Bailey, headteacher at Queensbridge Primary School, said: “We are very excited to be working together on this international project which has huge potential to impact upon our young people’s knowledge and understanding of the wider world in which they live.”

“It is a once in a lifetime opportunity for our students to make real connections with young people from another part of the world who live in a different cultural context.”

Janice Thomas, headteacher at Sebright Primary School, added: “Having the visitors from Algeria in our school was great. The whole school has studied Algeria and had produced some wonderful work to present to our visitors.”