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About the programme > creating effective partnerships

Creating effective partnerships

The Inter-Action programme facilitates partnerships between specialist schools in England and French collèges (11-14 years) and lycées (15-18 years) that have 'sections européennes'.

The main purpose is to develop collaborative, cross-curricular projects which encourage intercultural awareness and contact between students. Improving language skills through communication for real purposes is, of course, another important element, as is the potential for whole school staff development.

Much care is taken during the matching process to consider the character and ambitions of applicant schools. Schools are encouraged to be inventive in the activities they suggest, but both sides need to agree on what projects they will be working on together and how. This is why meeting representatives from your partner school at the annual partnership conference is so important.

Communication

One of the aims of the programme is to encourage imaginative use of ICT in communication between schools. Most communication between students is likely to take place electronically through email, blogs, websites or video conferencing with their partners.

Visits

Many student visits and exchanges have taken place as a result of involvement in Inter-Action, though this is not a requirement of the programme. Many partnerships do, however, lead to students travelling abroad, with some schools using the programme to develop exciting initiatives such as work experience abroad.

Curriculum projects

The staff leading the partnership need not necessarily be from the languages department, and projects focused on other subjects work well. The most innovative curriculum projects include topics such as the geography and the environment, knowledge of the history and culture of the partners' region, youth culture, habits and customs or music and theatre. Links focusing on sport or the performing arts can also offer students a new cultural and linguistic experience. In all these areas, schools may want to consider teaching other subjects in French as an interesting development.