Paralympics champion Dame Tanni Grey Thompson on BBC local radio

It's exactly one month since the end of the Beijing Para Olympics and Paralympian, Dame Tanni Grey Thompson will be on BBC local radio today talking about the games, the build up to London 2012 Olympics and international twinning between special schools.

The Paralympics is an international sporting event that promotes inclusion and raises the profile of sports for people with disabilities. The values are courage, determination, inspiration and equality. 
 
With 16 Paralympic medals to her name, including 11 gold, Dame Tanni's achievements in the disability sport arena are second to none. 

Read some brilliant examples of special schools joining in the Paralympic spirit. 

Stubbinwood School Nottingham

Stubbinwood is linked to the Yang Fan Special School in Shanghai.

Link co-ordinator Carolyn Biggs, says:

"Our student's disabilities range from autism and behavioural problems to physical disabilities, and they have low levels of achievement academically. The main focus of our link activities is based around sports and we are taking 8 students and 4 teachers on a visit to our partner school in Shanghai in two weeks time. We also plan to visit the Beijing stadium."

"Prior to the Paralympics, it was very hard for us to get funding or support for this trip. People would question why we were trying to take kids with disabilities to China. But since the Beijing Paralympics, we don’t get that reaction anymore. So it's really raised the profile of disabled people in sports."

Carlton Digby school Nottingham

Carlton Digby  is a school for children with learning and physical disabilities. They have links to schools in Poland, Korea and Taiwan.

Teacher Glenys Clifton says:

"Our international links have been very important in changing perceptions about disability. When we have visits from our partner school, it’s a real eye opener for them when they see that our children with disabilities attend school. Often in other countries disabled children are not included in schools. We believe in education for all."

"The Para Olympics have a big effect in raising the profile of disabled people because they demonstrate what can be achieved in competitive sports despite disabilities. The paralympians are athletes first and people with disabilities second."

The Eresby School in Lincolnshire

Eresby have a special focus on sport and outdoor activities. They are linked to Twin City Special School for the Mentally Handicapped in Ghana for students with profound and multiple learning difficulties. 

Jackie Macpherson says: Our partnership has helped raise the profile of disabled students both here and in Ghana. In Ghana in particular, special schools have a low status, so it is great for them to have an international link which boosts their standing in their own community and brings their pupils new experiences and opportunities. Our sports coaches have already been on exchange visits.

Through sports we can include all the children because it can be enjoyed by everyone, whatever their status. It's great to see that the Paralympic Games are becoming more mainstream and getting as much attention as the main Games. They encourage disabled children to think about what they CAN do rather than what they can't - just seeing someone in a wheelchair achieving their goals is something the children can relate to. Our Ghana partners also took a group of students to the Special Olympics in Beijing this year, so that shows that the Olympic Games are including all communities.

Heritage House in Buckinghamshire

This school is linked to Kuretake Sogo, a special needs school in Kyoto, Japan. Julie Golding Clark, Assistant Head teacher says:

For our pupils and the Japanese students who have a combination of learning and physical difficulties, the Parlaympics are really important in changing perceptions about disability. Many of our pupils cannot achieve academically or professionally, so its fantastic for them to see that its possible to achieve in other areas, like sports. Our pupils took part in the Paralympic handover ceremonies on 17th September and had a brilliant time.

How did they do that?


If you are interested in twinning your school with China or any other country, World Class will put you in touch with organisations which facilitate school twinning.

Find out more about World Class China and download the schools pack.

Find out more about World On the Move and order your migration twinning schools pack.

Join World Class in our Find A Twin section.

Read about Tanni Grey Thompson's career on BBC Sport

Find out more about the Paralympics

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