European Outdoor Education Network
Priory is a member of the European Institute for Outdoor Adventure Education and Experiential Learning (EOE), the European network of professionals, from social and youth workers, teachers and educators, academics and students.
This enables the school to share best practice an look at running joint trip abroad.
Their website is: http://www.eoe-network.eu
Suffolk / Nord Pas de Calais Partnership
The Nord Pas de Calais Project was set up five years ago and facilitates links between schools in Suffolk and France. The main aim is to establish a link with a similar school to motivate children when learning a foreign language.
Madame Claire Lengagne visited us in February 2013 and spent the day learning how an English school functions. Our pupils enjoyed her visit very much. She joined various classes during the day, reading stories in French and answering the children’s numerous questions.
I returned to France in March and spent a day at a school in Marles-les-Mines, an ex-coalmining town, which now relies on light industry and farming. It is an area of high unemployment situated 5 miles southwest of Béthune and 36 miles southwest of Lille.
I had a wonderful reception with the Union Jack flying and lots of lovely posters welcoming me. The children put on a special assembly when they sand ‘Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes’ which they had been practicing for the occasion.
I joined the Special Education Unit which caters for all children in the school. Pupils are taken out of the class to join their mainstream peers in their year group for various lessons but study English and Maths in the unit.
It was a very worthwhile experience and already we have received and sent letters to penpals. If the children have a specific question, we can quickly find the answer by emailing Madame Lengagne.
I am hopeful it will be a long and rewarding partnership.
