Christel House, India

18 Jul 2012

At the start of July, staff members Emma Sandwith and Paul Baker flew out to India to work in Bangalore for ten days at a local school, one of our partner schools in the Christel House charitable school foundation. Pupils are taken from the very poorest surrounding communities and are given a free education along with all of the other necessities to help them flourish. These include uniform, food (two meals a day), medical assistance, school equipment, transport, counselling and learning support services. Over their time at the school, pupils are taught to lift their sights and to help break the cycle of poverty by continuing into good further education and employment placements, with which the school assists them in their applications.

The children arrive at Kindergarten level knowing no English and knowing very little of the structure and routine that they will need in a school environment. This, like everything else, the school has to provide. Emma Sandwith was working with the English Department with their schemes of work, teaching methods and resource organisation, progression and planning. Paul Baker spent his time with the Maths and ICT Departments, again helping with schemes of work, working closely with the Head of Department and running a number of teacher workshops on child-centred and activity-based learning.

The selection of photos below give a flavour of the inspiring nature of the school, its teachers and its work. The Perse School is committed to further deepening its relationship with Christel House Schools worldwide. Following this visit, a successful Art sketchbook exchange earlier this year and a planned student Enrichment programme visit to South Africa, we are actively looking for ways to bring our students and teachers togheter in further common projects that strengthen us both and help share our understanding of our different countries, cultures and communities.

More information about Christel House Schools can be found on their website at http://www.christelhouse.org/