by Marie Cooper, Deputy Headteacher and Eleni Koloni, MFL Lead at Hogarth Academy
A few months ago, Hogarth Academy in Nottingham embarked on a remarkable journey with Leloup-Bouhier School in Nantes, France. What began with a Zoom meeting in February has blossomed into a wonderful cultural exchange initiative between the two schools. For the first time, both schools are engaged in an international partnership, fostering learning and understanding across borders. The aim is to immerse pupils in a rich exchange of language, customs, and school life, enhancing their global perspective.
The collaboration began with an exchange of letters between pupils at the two schools, sparking creative responses using beloved characters like the Gruffalo and the Three Little Pigs in EYFS, to Y6 pupils sharing personal stories. Every class poured their enthusiasm into each letter and drawing, producing a collective letter that described their school, class and Nottingham.
A recent visit to Nantes was a testament to the warm welcome and enthusiasm from the Leloup-Bouhier community. Marie Cooper, Deputy Headteacher and Eleni Koloni MFL Lead at Hogarth Academy met Agnes Guillotel, Professeure des ecoles and Gilles Prigent, Director of Leloup-Bouhier to solidify plans to deepen their collaboration through the E-Primo platform starting in September. This platform will streamline exchanges with document uploads and videos, enriching the partnership even further.
“The collaboration between Ecole and Hogarth Academy has proven to be a transformative experience for both students and educators, fostering a dynamic learning environment with exposure to varied teaching methods and cultural viewpoints. The students have gained a deeper comprehension of global issues and improved critical thinking skills through shared resources, joint projects, and exchange programs.
An integral result of this collaboration is the creation of a dynamic educational environment in which students collaborate on assignments, leveraging their unique abilities and gaining insights from their diverse perspectives. This interaction enhances their academic journey and creates enduring friendships, cultivating a sense of global citizenship.
Teachers have likewise derived advantages from this collaboration by sharing best practices and cutting-edge teaching methodologies, thereby broadening their professional development and improving the calibre of education delivered.
Looking ahead, the intention is to enhance this partnership by incorporating more technology-driven endeavours like virtual classrooms and collaborative online projects. This ongoing partnership assures continuous enrichment of the students’ educational experiences, equipping them for a world that is evolving rapidly.”
Eleni Koloni, MFL Lead at Hogarth Academy
Looking ahead, Hogarth Academy is excited about the future of this partnership, including welcoming Leloup-Bouhier pupils in May 2025. This collaboration is not just about learning a language; it’s about building lasting friendships and embracing diversity.
