Category: BBC;
BBC 7;
Five
Live; Radio
3; CBBC;
World
Service
Date: 25.02.2005
Printable version
BBC World Class, a new pan-BBC initiative, will encourage schools to
establish links between classrooms across the globe through its new
website - bbc.co.uk/worldclass.
Supported by a raft of programmes across BBC TV and Radio, BBC World
Class aims to raise awareness of school twinning amongst children, teachers
and parents.
It also provides support to schools who wish to get involved in an
international partnership.
The initiative has strong support from within the BBC. BBC Chairman
Michael Grade recently said that he sees the initiative as an important
part of the BBC's international role in "building understanding and
engagement".
Director-General Mark Thompson has described BBC World Class as "a
fresh approach to our young audience".
He says: "It shares our existing output in a relevant context and makes
current affairs 'real' for young people."
Launching on Tuesday 1 March 2005, bbc.co.uk/worldclass offers schools
information about getting started with twinning and outlines the reasons
to get involved in the initiative.
It also provides a chat room for teachers to share their experiences
and swap advice and tips, to make the experience as rewarding as possible.
The website is the result of a network of partnerships between the
BBC and experts in school twinning including the British Council, Link
Community Development, UKOWLA (UK One World Linking Association), Voluntary
Service Overseas (VSO), Dolen Cymru, Youth Sport Trust, Plan International
and Africa Bookcase.
Virginia Crompton, BBC World Class Creator and Project Leader, is passionate
about the initiative.
She says: "It works. International twinning can be an incredibly enriching
experience, not just for children but for parents and teachers too.
"It can give schools a passport to the world: broadening children's
horizons, bringing current affairs to life; improving literacy; promoting
understanding of diversity and much, much more."
Schools across the country already involved in twinning are delighted
that the BBC is inspiring more schools to get global links.
Tim Buckley, Head Teacher at Tithe Barn Primary School in Stockport,
says: "You can't imagine the benefits you're going to get out of twinning
- it's staggering what can happen.
"It opens people's minds - not just the children's but everyone in
the school community. It makes you question things, question your beliefs,
it breaks down stereotypes, broadens your horizons.
"When you get a letter from a school in Africa it's real and that's
what makes it exciting."
The initiative is supported across the BBC with a number of programmes
highlighting the benefits of the twinning experience:
BBC 7's Big Toe - pupils around
the UK have joined the Big Toe team in the studio to link up with their
international counterparts live on the show everyday throughout February.
Five Live's China Week - Five Live
will be broadcasting live from China in the second week of March, connecting
schools around the UK on air with their twinning partners in China.
At the end of the week the Five Live team will broadcast
from Bashu Primary School in Chongqing, central China.
Bashu is twinned with St Joan of Arc Primary in Bootle
and teachers from Bashu recently visited Merseyside and taught the primary
school children Mandarin.
During the broadcasts the children from Bootle will
have a chance to talk to the teachers in Bashu.
Five Live - in May, Five Live are
organising a week of media literacy activities in a London school where
87 per cent of the children are from the Bangladeshi community.
Leading the event is a live broadcast of Any Sporting
Questions from the school featuring Bangladeshi and UK national cricket
players.
They'll also taking children along to the test match
to contribute to live broadcasts.
BBC Africa Season: 1,000 Schools for Africa
- the BBC Africa Season this year will include a legacy project with
BBC World Class to raise 1,000 Schools for Africa.
Across the season, networks and programmes will encourage
audiences to consider twinning their schools with schools in Africa
and existing school partnerships will be celebrated.
On air, 1,000 Schools for Africa will be supported by
local radio stations across the country.
It will be brought to children through the BBC7 Big
Toe Radio Show and CBBC's Xchange.
The Africa Service at the BBC
World Service will contribute through its interactive programme,
Africa Live, and Outlook
and Everywoman will bring the 1,000
Schools initiative to a global audience.
Radio 3 - the BBC Symphony Orchestra's
Sounds SO Global project continues to work in partnership with schools
around the world.
CBBC's Xchange - the programme is
running a special film, How to Twin your School, in May and June.
