'The Pilton Oman Partnership is a wonderful opportunity to open doors, break down barriers and witness first hand the amazing life in the Middle East. I am very proud of the partnership and hope that it will continue longer than the three years it is scheduled for.' Sheryl Arnold, English Teacher and Deputy Head of Year 9.

Context
Pilton Community College is a rural mixed 11 – 16 comprehensive school in North Devon. Pupils have a good record of examination performance and a substantial proportion go on to further education. In 2003 the school was designated Specialist Language College and is keen to develop the international nature of its work. Recent pupil trips and exchanges include visits to Germany, France, Austria, Peru and Morocco. Staff exchanges have occurred between colleagues in the Sudan, USA and Australia. French and German are core languages to GCSE level but pupils can choose Russian, Arabic, Mandarin or Dutch as additional languages.

Key objectives
To break down the rural isolation of North Devon by encouraging international communication and contact for all ages and for a wide range of community groups including businesses. To break down barriers through studying the culture of the Middle East through joint activities, letters and e-mails.

'When the teachers came over from Oman, it was excellent to meet them and to see, by way of video link, our partners' Rowena Bay

How the programme is organised
'Prior to the Oman partnership being founded in December 2006, no preparation work was undertaken. When I returned from my five days in Oman with two schools to partner, then the fun began!' Sheryl Arnold, English Teacher and Deputy Head of Year 9.

The Pilton Oman three year Partnership runs alongside the school curriculum. Students meet with the lead teacher on a regular basis and complete any letters, emails or activities they are embarking on for the partnership. The first year of the partnership has specifically looked at 'breaking down barriers.' This has involved looking closely at the culture of Oman and the UK and finding our similarities and differences. In addition to this, students have also looked closely at the media to understand why the Middle East has the perception that it does within the UK.

To engage students with the partnership, Sheryl delivered assemblies in traditional clothes.

'Students were completely taken with this and stayed on task for the whole assembly. It was lovely. After that, students came to see me to collect a questionnaire sheet to complete. Questions on this ranged from 'why do you want to take part?' to 'what could you offer.' I never turned anyone down though but their answers were lovely.' Sheryl Arnold, English Teacher and Deputy Head of Year 9.

The greatest motivation for the students involved in the partnership is the fact that they genuinely want to learn about the Middle East and see for themselves what it is like. They also want to go and visit their partners and see for themselves the two hour standing assembly in the mornings! Many of the students involved in this project signed up for the British Council Arabic Immersion Course in Egypt held in February 2008 – mainly because they wanted to learn Arabic so they could be ready to meet their partners.

'If I had to give advice on beginning a partnership with Middle Eastern schools, I would say – go for it. You won’t be sorry. Students will love the opportunity that it brings and the partnership schools will be genuinely pleased to have interested people from the UK wanting to know more about them. The main issues with running the partnership are funding. The British Council fund the partnership for three years but if you want to go and visit your partnership schools, funding can be hard to obtain.' Sheryl Arnold, English Teacher and Deputy Head of Year 9.

'Curriculum constraints are the other main problem. Finding time to meet with students and to tie the meetings in with subjects which aren’t your own is particularly difficult. It should be noted though that nothing is impossible – it just takes time to get around things and if you’re determined, it will happen!' Sheryl Arnold, English Teacher and Deputy Head of Year 9.

Results/effect
'Students have gained so much, unbiased, understanding of a little known area in our world. They have joined with people half a world away, whose lives are not that dissimilar to their own and have learnt to accept the differences. Perhaps there is a lesson here that we should all learn? As the lead teacher in the partnership, I have gained a new understanding – not only of a new country, a new language and new culture, but of myself. I originally went to Oman thinking I had an open mind – my how the Omani people changed that belief! I learnt more in five days there than a whole life time of assumed ‘openness’ had taught me. I love the change it has had on me and the change and delight in the students is second to none as far as education goes.' Sheryl Arnold, English Teacher and Deputy Head of Year 9.

As a result of the Pilton Oman Partnership, the school has gained many varied and interesting contacts with other schools – both nationally and internationally. In addition to this, they have improved their status in the local area by way of the publicity gained from the events they organise or their students take part in.

Future developments
Next year, in year 2 of the programme, they hope to involve the National Curriculum more and will spend some time devoted to particular subjects. In the coming years, they hope to take students to Oman to meet their Omani partner so that they can witness the culture for themselves, first hand. They also aim to raise the profile of the Arabic language and offer the language to more and more interested students. Students who take Arabic as a language will study towards an Asset languages qualification.

Author: Sheryl Arnold, English Teacher and Deputy Head of Year 9.

Signposting
These kinds of activities would be perfect as part of the ASDAN International Award.