Our "Building Community" driver is deeply rooted in fostering a strong sense of local pride among our students, while simultaneously broadening their horizons to embrace global perspectives. Nestled near the natural wonders of Dartmoor and Exmoor, our school is ideally situated for students to explore and appreciate the rich geographical and historical tapestry of their immediate environment. This connection to their locality serves as the foundation upon which we build our broader educational aims.

We are committed to educating our students about both local and national issues, encouraging them to become actively involved in community efforts and solutions. This hands-on approach not only deepens their understanding of the challenges facing our society but also empowers them to make a tangible difference.

While we cherish our local roots, we also recognise the immense value in connecting with the wider world. Our Trust has a history of engaging in projects with the British Council and forming educational partnerships across Europe and countries like India. These international collaborations have been instrumental in providing our students with a global perspective, enhancing their understanding of diverse cultures, and fostering a sense of global citizenship.

As we move forward, we continue to seek out and cultivate partnerships that align with our vision of developing well-rounded individuals who are proud of their local heritage and equipped to engage with and contribute to the global community. Through these efforts, we aim to nurture students who are not only knowledgeable about the world but are also motivated to apply their learning in positive and impactful ways.

In summary, our "Building Community" driver is about striking a balance between local engagement and global awareness. By grounding our students in the rich context of their locality and extending their learning to encompass global issues and cultures, we are preparing them to become informed, compassionate, and active global citizens.

 

Knowing what it means to be part of a global community and a responsible global citizens who works for the good of their community, is something of great importance to us at Witheridge Academy. Whilst with us, we strive to ensure that our children acquire a depth of knowledge about the world in which they live. Through this we want our pupils to build positive relationships with other children in the UK, Europe and from across the wider world. In order to achieve our goals each year group has a global partner country which they learn about and a partner school which they communicate with. Our Big Event curriculum provides plenty of opportunities through each theme to examine a range of global issues that are relevant to the pupil's lives.

 

In August 2022, we were delighted to be awarded with an International Schools Award and full accreditation for our work Sanjivani International School in Mumbai. 

http://sanjivaniis.com/index.php

During our partnership with Sanjivani International, we have enjoyed regular online meetings through Google Classroom. The children have pen pals in India who they enjoy catching up with and chatting with. As part of our end of year celebration last year, the children in Mumbai taught us the song 'Hum Honge Kumyab' and the dance teacher at Sanjivani International taught us the dance moves. 

  

 

  

Throughout our partnership, we have worked together with Sanjivani International to find out more about the UN Sustainable Development goals, specifically focussing on Goal no.12 - Responsible Consumption and Production.