Students from Burleigh Community College in Loughborough were privileged earlier this month in being able to connect by live video link to schools in the Far East. Along with students from Garendon and Limehurst High Schools, they were able to see and hear their fellow students in their own countries using the latest video conferencing software and equipment. The Limehurst group broadcast live from their own school. As well as the Loughborough schools, three schools took part from Thailand and three from Malaysia.

Claire Newbold, International Co-ordinator across the Loughborough Learning Partnership who organised the event said ‘It took a lot of organising to get so many people in such distant countries together at the same time, but it was well worth it and we can’t wait to do it all again in January!’

The Project is part of the British Council Connecting Classrooms initiative and took place in one of Burleigh's well equipped IT rooms. Diane Coppard, who linked in from Limehurst said ‘my pupils were very excited to speak face to face with the pupils they had already linked with in Thailand, This is what Connecting Classrooms is really all about – finding out about each other and celebrating our uniqueness.’

The aim of the project is to build sustainable partnerships between schools in the UK and across East Asia. Through these partnerships schools will be helped to educate young people as global citizens and broaden their international view.

Nusayabah Ahmed, a pupil in Year 9 from Garendon said ‘It was really enriching and exciting to be able to link with people of our own age who live on the other side of the World. I have swapped email addresses with them and can’t wait to speak to them again.’

Students watched the Loy Krathong festival in Thailand via video link whilst the pupils explained to each other events surrounding Eid, Bonfire Night and Loy Krathong. The Loughborough pupils are all doing follow up work (making lanterns and mats) and will send pictures of their endeavours to those in the other countries.

Shanjidah Akthar, a student in Year 10 from Burleigh said ‘ The festival was amazing. I couldn’t believe it when they invited us to go and spend it with them next year – it would be fantastic if we could go.’