Opportunity for schools to bring the world to their classrooms

Pupils engaging in an outdoor lesson at Kirkinriola Primary School, a Ballymena school which has made excellent progress on the Global Learning Programme (GLP) since joining in early 2016.

For the last two years, the GLP has been helping schools across Northern Ireland embed education for a fair and sustainable world through the provision of teacher training, guidance and resources.

More than 30% of all Northern Ireland schools are already participating in the GLP, among them Kirkinriola Primary School, Ballymena.

Kirkinriola joined the GLP in March 2016 and has already earned a Level One Global Learning Certificate in recognition of its excellent progress on global learning.

A global dimension is incorporated into all of the main topics explored by pupils in the classroom. So, when looking at the Olympics last year, for instance, pupils considered what factors might cause some countries to gain more medals than others and when studying Invaders and Settlers, they considered what it was like to be a refugee forced to travel to another country.

The school has always had a strong environmental focus and became involved in the GLP as a way to further open up children’s understanding of their world.

Interim Principal Emily McCaffery, who leads global learning within the school, believes this aim has been achieved.

She said: “The GLP offers a fresh perspective on key messages about fairness and equality, which relate not just to your school, not just to your local community, but globally as well.”

The next round of GLP training for schools is taking place this spring at a choice of locations from March 28, including Bellaghy and Belfast. Spaces remain at all venues at present but are filling up fast. To find out more visit www.globallearningni.com.