Harrogate High School has appointed its second partnership school in the development of global dimensions; one of the new initiatives' the school is using to develop the schools curriculum.

Developing links with the wider community enhances global links throughout the school.

All links are based on equality, mutual learning and curriculum development. Making the links with schools in other countries includes not only the potential of student and staff exchanges, but a more inclusive approach including themed days being held in each of the schools, linking the schools as a whole.

Even though Tanzania is on the other side of the world and communication can be a barrier due to the economic depravity of the partner school, 'Tanzania Days' are held at Harrogate High School.

This includes full curriculum days where students are given the opportunity to discover the differences between the schools, countries and cultures.

Example activities have been Africa weather patterns in geography, traditional dishes in food technology, charcoal tribe's art work and Kiswahili in MFL.

Partnerships between the schools expose the different learning styles between students and teaching styles amongst teachers. The partnership has helped to break down stereotypical barriers and has helped to develop the ethos at Harrogate High School.

A group of teachers visited the partnership school, Makongo High School, early in 2007; they were able to see the poor conditions that the Tanzanian children and teachers face, yet experience the positive ethos and drive to gain a good education.

The teachers involved were able to view the barriers in place to students' education in the third world country.

One of the teachers that went to Tanzania said:"The children of Tanzania are very humbled in their attitude to education. They see school as a privilege not a right, a way out of poverty and hardship."

Some thoughts that were brought back were 'upsetting' 'surreal' and 'life changing'; it also gave the teachers the drive and determination to take a group of students to develop their own personal understanding of the conditions the children face.

Plans are still in place to visit the school in Tanzania, hopefully resulting in 'student swaps'.

This will mean Harrogate High students may be hosted by a Tanzania family, and Tanzanian students being hosted in Harrogate High student's homes in return. A stark difference in standards of living amongst the two countries.

Even though plans are still undergoing to achieve this miracle experience, a group of teachers are visiting a second partnership school in Boston, USA.

Two schools will be visited as part of the partnership development; TechBoston in the City of Boston and Hingham High School in the leafy south shore suburbs.

The visit will give teachers an understanding of the American curriculum and strategies that are in place, with a view to return and implement some of them into Harrogate High.

The research that is done in the USA will undergo thorough observation by Student Voice members who will, with teachers co-construct a three year international development plan to deliver across both schools
Recently we have had an exciting week for Student Voice, as the Student Voice interviewers have being undergoing their first project in interviewing potential teachers for the school.

Throughout the week interviews took place where applicants have gone under the scrutiny of students, where question asking and interviewing techniques were put into practice.

A trust and empowerment has being put into the students for the first time, which will develop their experiences and choices in school and six successful appointments were made.

I am sure this is not the last strategy being put in place by all at Harrogate High School. They have plenty more exciting ideas and projects up there sleeves yet to be launched.