Last week as part of the Erasmus+ international programme co-funded by the European Union a group of students and staff visited Ceyhan, Turkey. This project links students from schools across Europe through exchange visits to develop their personal, social skills and to promote student’s being adaptable to the labour markets, locally, nationally and internationally.
Schools from Italy, Portugal, Romania, Turkey and Erdington Academy represented theUnited Kingdom. For some of our students this was their first time abroad or on an aeroplane. Students took part in school life at the Turkish school, including lessons in Turkish, cultural activities such as traditional folk dance and songs. They also visited sites of historical interest including ancient homes carved into sandstone cliffs, and the famous ‘Varda Bridge’ which you may have seen- on the James Bond movie Skyfall.
Our students engaged fully with students from all partner schools, meeting the families and parents of the Turkish students, whose welcome and generosity was overwhelming. Our students presented information to the other participants about their own backgrounds, our school context, the variety of cultures in Birmingham and careers opportunities in the West Midlands. During the students’ evaluation of their week as individuals, as a school and as an international party they produced a video which summarised their experiences with each other.
The visit culminated in a musical performance, exchange of gifts and planting of commemorative trees in the school grounds as a lasting legacy. The next exchange is scheduled for Northern Portugal in October.
Lisa Millward
Lead Practitioner
Subject of Leader of Girls PE
Careers Lead
