The group on Hastings pier.

Hastings welcomes teachers from Twin Town

Seven teachers from Hastings Sierra Leone, who arrived in the town on Hastings Day (14 October), will be spending a week working alongside teachers from The Baird Primary Academy, Guestling Bradshaw CE Primary, St Leonards CE Academy, St Mary Star of the Sea RC Primary and West St Leonards Academy.

The coordinator of this project, Roger Mitchell said “Our partnerships are proving highly valuable in helping children here and in Sierra Leone to understand more about the world they live in. They gain insights into how cultures and lifestyles interact through history, climate and geography”.

Support coordinator, Isabel Hodger has been overseeing the collaboration between the Link and the British Council. She has also been focusing on improving the teaching of mathematics in our partner Sierra Leone Schools with the help of Letitia Huggins. Letitia teaches at Jui Lower, near to Hastings town and is very keen to help her colleagues using the strategies learnt and observed. She said “I am really looking forward to developing some of the ideas we have shared when I return to my own school”.

Francis Mason, co-ordinator of the link in Sierra Leone, accompanied the party and spent time visiting the other nine schools involved in the link. Francis said “I want to thank all the people in Hastings UK for their hospitality and desire to share with us in educating all our children. We appreciate greatly the friendships that have grown up between us”

Regular exchange visits have been taking place between Link schools in both countries since 2010, mainly funded by British Council grants. This year, jointly

funded by the schools themselves and the Hastings Sierra Leone Friendship Link, this return visit helped to share skills and embed relationships in order to enhance the children’s understanding of our world in both countries.

As well as working hard in their schools, the teachers have had an opportunity to experience life and have some fun in Hastings and East Sussex. They will be trying Morris Dancing, Crazy Golf and will visit the Caves and Hastings Castle.

Plans are already well advanced for further exchanges in 2018.

Also in: Education