Cranford welcomes our Erasmus partners

The first week of June 2022 brought with it the opportunity to welcome our Norwegian and Dutch Erasmus partners back to Cranford after their first visit in 2019.

Whilst some of the team have changed, our focus on sharing best practice in the areas of inclusion, assessment and technical education have not and we spent a brilliant week showing off our school, local area and city with a focus on our developing industry partnerships and integrating new migrant students. In fact, the itinerary proved so popular two extra Norwegian language teachers joined our group.

Since the project began, our new T level courses in Digital Production, Design and Development and Education and Childcare have seen their first cohorts shine and these students, as well as the new 6th form leadership team played an integral role in the visit. All the students involved in observations, feedback groups and tours hosted with maturity and skill and our guests commented on how aspirational and engaging they were.

We are also grateful to Sheena Poley, Hounslow Local Authority’s Head of School Organisation and Access to Education for an illuminating presentation on Hounslow’s educational provision for asylum seekers and other students arriving from overseas; and to Springwell Primary school for welcoming us with open arms to meet with our students working to support their early years and Key Stage 1 provision.

The social side of the programme enabled us to embrace our cultural history with visits to central London and the London Eye and Hampton Court Place – well, international collaboration isn’t all work, work , work.