Peruvian Andes come to Torbay

Finally three head teachers from Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire set high in the Peruvian Andes, have arrived safely back in their classrooms with many stories to tell and plans to develop, after having spent a whirlwind ten day visit to Torbay schools.

Artemio Gomez, Manuela Vera Zela and Marcelino Salas were here to visit their partner schools; Churston Ferrers Grammar School, White Rock and Collaton St Mary Primary schools respectively, as well as other schools in the Torbay Cluster, local businesses and attractions. Manuela's review of her time in Torbay mentioned a "non stop, action packed, highly emotional and quality learning opportunity for everyone 'touched' by the exchange".

The school linking programme was established back in 2006 when an expedition of Churston students spent a week cementing the relationship between Churston and its principle feeder primaries and Lucre secondary school and its surrounding primaries. Since then the link has been developed between the regions with the help of Tom Jolly from educational organisation GlobalEd.

"What we have been developing here in Torbay and in the Lucre region to the south of Cusco has been a unique approach to international collaboration and educational development all tied into relevant curriculum implementation in both Peru and the UK."

Two basic principles underlay the programme; simultaneous 'cluster' development and intelligent resourcing in both regions. Tom goes on to say; "It is very important that all schools in all nations produce 'sustainable citizens' not just those in richer countries. That means we have to have realistic ways of schools in poorer countries like Peru being able to achieve the same urgent objectives as here in the UK. For teachers from each region now to be able to travel and develop their own ideas is a huge step forward for the programme".

The first teacher visit to Cusco was made last year by staff from Churston and White Rock setting up the logistics for subsequent teacher exchanges. Support for this visit plus the 2009 exchange was sought from the British Council's 'Schools Exchange Programme'. Teachers form Churston, White Rock and Collaton St Mary enjoyed the hospitality of their Peruvian partners in June and after a complicated process were finally able to receive the teachers from Cusco at their schools here in Torbay.

Penny Millington, Head Teacher at Collaton St Mary who travelled to Cusco in June said; "It has been a great honour to host our Cusco friends and colleagues at last. Their visit has had a huge impact on pupils, staff and parents alike and we are all very excited about the work we have planned for the next three years."

The programme in both regions is not limited to these schools, Eden Park and Galmpton Primaries are now at the stage in their linking to be applying for funding for exchanges with their partner schools. Other schools across the Bay and the Lucre area of Cusco are also joining the programme.

"By encouraging and developing a cluster principle in both regions each individual school link is very valuable, but collectively in each region our impact and benefit can be enhanced by working together as a group of schools." David Lewis, Director of Humanities at Churston Ferrers Grammar School, explained why this programme is so successful. He went on to say; "In that way the whole community can be involved and therefore benefit. Managing the programme naturally becomes a lot easier and much more efficient. That has to be a good thing if we are to tackle global issues such as climate change."

The Cusco teachers spent the week mainly in their partner schools where they spent time teaching students and staff traditional dance, about harvest time in the Andes and general life in their schools. They also saw plenty of lessons and GCSE Spanish students at Churston had lessons in Quechua, the traditional language of the Andes. The Head Teachers were able to see the final designs of the fourth calendar in the series "Life in the Andes". The team of student editors proudly showed off the work, a collaboration between the partner schools in Peru and Torbay, before it goes off to print in the next week or so.

"The dancing was so much fun. It was brilliant that we are being taught these dances by real Peruvians in our hall whilst being able to see the actual dance being done at a festival in Cusco on our big video screen." Explained one enthusiastic young dancer at White Rock Primary.

When not in classes or planning meetings the teachers enjoyed the hospitality of Kent Caverns, Torquay Museum, Dartmouth Naval College, River Dart 'Round Robin', Astra Zenica's environmental labs in Brixham and The Eden Project as well of course just some of Torbay's ale houses. Their stay was made all the easier at Summerhill Hotel on Goodrington Sands as the owners are bilingual...no confusion over the breakfast then.

"Now that the dust has settled and we are all back in our classrooms we have to put together all the plans we have made for the coming three years. It has been an exciting journey since those early planning days for the 2006 expedition. Teachers in both regions have been receiving courses and support on exchange work but now after these first visits to Cusco and Torbay the real benefits of collaborative curriculum projects begins. Plenty of activities in both regions are underway including the planting of fruiting or medicinal trees in the Peruvian schools in an attempt to balance the carbon used in the exchange travel needs." Explained David Lewis

"This work could not be more appropriate." Tom finally added; "Our British Ambassador in Lima, is a very keen promoter of sustainability and believes the answer is in 'education and collaboration'. She has a point."