A PRIMARY school which has established a reputation for raising standards across the North West is now helping to do the same in Europe.
European teachers visited St Paul’s CE Primary School, in Astley Bridge, to see if they could learn from their counterparts.
Teachers from Toftevang School in Denmark spent half a day at St Paul’s to discover more about co-operative learning, which the school uses to develop bright and confident pupils.
St Paul’s has already been recognised as a “super school” to help raise standards in schools in the North West as a national support school, helping with staff training and supporting other teachers.
Now the school, in Newnham Street, has caught the attention of the Danish school, which wanted to find out how other schools worked.
Senior leader Nicolai Geslau was so impressed was with a visit to the school last year, he wanted teachers at the Danish school to see for themselves how children were being taught.
Mr Geslau said: “If only a few people visit, then it is not always easy to share what they have seen. But if all the teachers visit, then they can talk about what they have seen.
“It is really great to see something different.
“It is inspirational, and if teachers can take one thing back with them that can be used then visits like this are of value.”
Mr Geslau said he was interested in the co-operative learning, based on the Kagan model, in which pupils work in groups to complete tasks together, learning from and encouraging each other and sharing ideas.
This is said to not only improve academic performance, but also promote social and personal development.
Karen Bramwell, St Paul’s headteacher, said: “Having teachers come to visit the school like this is an affirmation for our teachers that their fantastic practice is being recognised.”
The school has been teaching children using the co-operative learning model for five years, which has seen even the quietist child blossom and develop confidence, bosses say.
“We have a saying, ‘no hogs no logs’, which means no one can hog a conversation nor can anyone just be like a log and sit back,” she said.
“We have seen children taking charge of their own learning and increased energy levels in class.”
Pupils said they enjoy showing off their school.
Qibtiyya Bhatti, aged 11, said: “We have visitors all the time and it is nice to show them our school, for them to experience what it is like and for us to meet new people.
“Our school is very special, we are all united.”
Ibrahim Umarji, aged 10, said he wanted the visitors to see how much fun learning could be. “Our teachers make lessons fun and creative. We are more confident because we all talk to each other and share ideas,” he said.
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