Gotherington Primary School

• children and staff are really excited when they make strong links with other countries
• children and staff have direct contact with other cultures and languages
• ideas and good practice are shared
• team building opportunities
• enhanced cross-curricular approach
• development of new teaching strategies and materials
• development of communication and creative skills for pupils
• long-term friendships with people from other countries

Our most recent partnership has been formed with Montecito Union School in Santa Barbara. https://www.montecitou.org Our Headteacher visited in February 2022 to launch the partnership and to learn about the wonderful learning environment that has been created there. The culture and ethos of this fantastic school is very similar to ours at Gotherington and we look forward to working together in the future.

In February 2020 we hosted our partner school Ace School in Nepal http://aceschool.edu.np/ to visit us at Gotherington and joined schools across Gloucestershire and Nepal at a Celebration event to share our partnership learning at Denmark Road High School.

With the help and support of FOGS, the school has established links with a school in the Gambia. It is hoped that future fundraising efforts will be used to support schemes that are taking place in the school, such as providing the children with play equipment. The link will also be used to educate children about the similarities and differences between our school and one in Africa. We have already found out that the children wear blue uniforms, love playing football and have their own vegetable garden. They are also about to make use of the old play equipment near to Gotherington Village Hall. This is an exciting link and one we hope will continue for many years.