5th iNet International Conference, 26 28 November 2008

As a result of the international partnership between King John School (Essex, UK) and Atlantis School (Western Cape, South Africa), international curriculum projects and activities have developed in a growing range of subjects. The following departments have incorporated the partnership potential into the work done in various key stages:

English

A study of African literature and poetry forms part of the KS3 curriculum time. In addition, learners in both schools have created and exchanged 'tourist information guides' to their local areas.

Music

A study of African music and rhythms takes place during KS3 & KS4, with a particular focus on the role drumming plays in South African clture. Music students have also performed traditional English music when South African visitors came to the school.

Both schools are working towards a joint CD of traditional music performed by the students.

Mathematics and science

A cross-curricular project looking at data exchange and spreadsheet manipulation. Equipment and instructions were exchanged during the Teachers' International Professional Development (TIPD) visit in 2004, allowing students to work with ‘live’ data.

There have also been some video conference meetings between the learners in both schools. This includes a joint ‘lesson’ taken by a teacher in KJS to pupils in both schools.

Staff from both departments have visited Atlantis on TIPD visits, and have close contact with peers in Atlantis school.

Performing arts

We hold an 'Africa Day' extension activity in KS3, incorporating music and dance. External agencies are used to promote active participation and awareness among the pupils. We hope to make this a reciprocal activity in future years, rather than just using Atlantis School as a consultative body.

MFL

Year 7 pupils have started a lunchtime club to learn Afrikaans. The school has been visited by Atlantis staff and other South African visitors, and all were welcomed in their native language by our pupils. It is envisaged that there will be greater pupil interaction via webcam and MSN messenger once the technology is more stable in Atlantis.

Geography

Geography has taken a lead role in our GEMINI projects, where students create websites to share their learning with their partner school, This has included collaborative work with Atlantis learners throughout. The 2004 TIPD trip initiated the geography project, which led to the web-based work to evaluate the work.

ICT

Pupils in year 7 work on an integrated project to develop PowerPoint skills. They are provided with an mp3 clip of the South African national anthem, and are given the task of producing a presentation which visually reflects the song and South African cluture. In 2006 we were lucky to have Charles Marthinussen, Atlantis School's principal, visiting the school, so he was able to judge them.

Other activities

In addition to all the curriculum based activities, there have been three other major projects in the last 12 months:

• Learner Sponsorship is a means by which Atlantis learners have their annual fees paid by one of our pupils or teachers. There is a large degree of accountability built into the system, as the learner is aware of their benefactor and encouraged to communicate with them. In the first year, over 80 people were involved, and now have a direct link to the Atlantis community. They received letters of thanks from their learner, and the communication corridors are now open. The sponsorship brochure is included to give more background to the work.
• International Conferences in Amsterdam and Cape Town were attended by students from both schools. They made a joint presentation to delegates from around the world, covering the student perspective for greater international integration and partnership. The friendships built in this short time together are still very strong.
• International Day is a year 7 enrichment day that covers globalisation in all its forms. Pupils play the role of a country for the day, fact finding and taking part in cultural activities. There are visitors to the school during the day, and worldwide contact is made via radio. South Africa is one of the countries involved, with Atlantis acting as a focal point for that research.