Twinning link benefits Douglas and Ballymoney primary schoolsListen to this page
Pupils from St Thomas’s School in Douglas and Bushvalley Primary School in Ballymoney have been benefiting from the twinning link forged between the two towns.
St Thomas’ head teacher Jonathan Ayres said: ‘Towards the end of last year we collaborated on a seafaring project where we looked at the Ellan Vannin disaster, the RNLI, shipwrecks around the Isle of Man, the Steam Packet and Bible stories relating to the Sea of Galilee, while Bushvalley did a project on the Titanic. In December we did a class Christmas card exchange and this year the pupils made a podcast swap.’
The podcast, which can be downloaded from the school’s website features pupils talking in depth about their school, Douglas and the Isle of Man.
Mr Ayres continued: ‘We have benefited a great deal from meeting with teachers from Bushvalley and there are a lot of common themes we’re developing. So far we’ve looked at thinking skills and problem solving and we shall also be looking at refining the ways in which we ask children about their views on learning. We also hope to set up a Skype link in the near future.’
Bushvalley Primary School principal Paula Whyte said: ‘We have found the link with St Thomas’ School to be extremely beneficial – particularly for staff to share good practice. We have shared experience on common themes, for example: early years provision looking at activity-based learning and record keeping. We also discussed our special needs provision and how children with learning difficulties were managed in the schools. Jonathan Ayres and I have discussed self evaluation and how our schools are managed, funded and inspected – the Isle of Man being quite different from Northern Ireland in this respect - and it’s interesting to hear about how different schools operate and manage their situations.
‘We are now changing from a subject-based to a thematic-based curriculum which I understand has been in operation in the Isle of Man for some time, and we have been able to share resources and ideas for this also.
‘The children write each year, which is great that they have a real pen-pal and it makes the skill of letter-writing more relevant. Due to the pressures of a full timetable and a lot of activities, we don’t write often enough but we do try to make time for this and hope to keep it going in the next school year.
‘The twinning link between Douglas and Ballymoney is excellent – as a people we have a lot in common and our outlook and interests are similar. The link is great for both schools and hopefully will continue for many years to come.’
Chairman of Douglas Borough Council’s twinning committee Councillor Richard Kissack said: ‘The twinning of Douglas with Ballymoney is extremely valuable. Not only is the affiliation generating strong sporting links but it is also fostering cultural ties and encouraging deeper understanding and appreciation of the two regions. I am therefore delighted that St Thomas’ School and Bushvalley Primary School are finding the twinning of our two towns so mutually beneficial.’
Ballymoney, the birthplace of the late TT legend Joey Dunlop, has been officially twinned with Douglas since 2006 when the relationship between the two towns was formally recognised at a ceremony in Douglas Town Hall.
St Thomas’ School year 5 pupils Freya Cullen and Lauren Slater, both aged 10, making their contribution to the school podcast
St Thomas’ School year 5 pupil Matthew McKeeman, 10, records his section for the school podcast
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