Above:

Blaengwawr Comprehensive School has been learning about their own community through linking with partners in Europe under the Comenius programme, in a joint project on immigration and emigration.  The school is situated in an area of South Wales with high social deprivation and many pupils have little experience of travelling outside the immediate area.  Sixth form students investigated the history of Italian immigration into South Wales and shared the results with partner schools in France, Italy and Spain - who also looked at aspects of emigration and immigration in their own areas. 

• Students gained an understanding of migration issues across Europe and how they related to their own community
  
• Students conducted video interviews with second and third generation migrants in their area, building links with the community and developing key skills
  
• Pupils gained direct experience of European cultures and met European counterparts from the partner schools as well as discovering more about their own community history
  
• The whole school shared in the benefits through an exhibition and a shared website with all of the partners' findings 
  
• The project resulted in the school gaining two Welsh Heritage Awards - the only secondary school in Wales to do so.
  

For further information about this case study, please select the following link to Blaengwawr Comprehensive School's dedicated project website at http://promise.blaengwawr.co.uk/.

Comenius School Partnerships Programme:
The Comenius programme provides funding and support for schools across Europe to work together on joint curriculum projects and take part in other initiatives, including professional development for teachers. 

Full programme details are available online c/o: www.britishcouncil.org/comenius.

Additional information can also be found on the following websites:
Comenius Promise Project - www.comenius-promise.eu
E-Twinning School Partnerships in Europe -  www.etwinning.net
Global Gateway - www.globalgateway.org/