LINKING NETWORK - Key Persons
Bristol Schools Linking Programme led by Poppi Toon, Project Manager at Bridges For Communities, Bristol - poppi.toon@bridgesforcommunities.com
Buckinghamshire Schools Linking Programme led by Yvette Thomas, Equalities and School Improvement Manager, with Carol Stottor, PSHE Lead - Public Health and Schools, Children's Social Care and Learning, Buckinghamshire County Council- ythomas@buckscc.gov.uk or cstottor@bucksscc.gov.uk
Burnley/ Lancashire Schools Linking Programme led by Afrasiab Anwar, MBE, Council Leader, Burnley Council with Roxana Sardais, Samantha Hoban, James Orme and Neetal Parekh, Ethnic Minority / Gypsy Roma & Traveller Achievement Service, at Burnley and Pendle Faith Centre, Lancashire County Council - for secondary Linking please contact: afrasiab.anwar@lancashire.gov.uk Samantha.Hoban@lancashire.gov.uk , Roxana.Sardais@lancashire.gov.uk , for primary Linking please contact: James.Orme@lancashire.gov.uk , Neetal.Parekh@lancashire.gov.uk
Bury Schools Linking Programme led by Janna Welsby at Fair Futures - fairfutures@outlook.com
Calderdale Schools Linking Programme - led by Sarah Hetherington, sarah.hetherington@thelinkingnetwork.org.uk
Job Titles:
- Programmes Co - Ordinator, the Faith & Belief Forum
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- Intergenerational Advisory Teacher
- Primary Advisory Teacher
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- Secondary Advisory Teacher
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- Bishop
- Bishop of Bradford
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- Bradford Primary Linking Programme Officer
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- Programmes Manager, Education & Impact
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- Adult Education and Community Development
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- Programme Led by Sam Hussain, Manager@Derbyopencentre.Org
Derby Schools Linking Programme led by Sam Hussain, manager@derbyopencentre.org
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- Schools Linking Teacher of 9 Years, Arden Primary School, Shares Her Experience of the Programme
Gemma Abbott, Schools Linking teacher of 9 years, Arden Primary School, shares her experience of the programme.
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- EAL & Community Cohesion Lead at St. Mary 's CE Primary, Shared His Experiences of Linking With Lowerplace Community Primary School With Us
James Carey, EAL & Community Cohesion Lead at St. Mary's CE Primary, shared his experiences of linking with Lowerplace Community Primary School with us: The first half-term of Linking with Year 4 has always focused on deepening the children's understanding of themselves - trying to find meaning behind the question: ‘Who am I?'. In our first year as part of The Linking Network, I saw children being incredibly creative and making optimistic representations of their personalities. However, they did not readily accept that our fears, our weaknesses and our differences also contribute to our personalities. To make this point clearer, I used ‘The Wall in the Middle of the Book' by Jon Agee this year: a fantastically illustrated tale of one knight and the ‘scary things' that live on the other side of a wall separating the two sides of the book - only to find out that there are no scary things at all! We read the story and reflected on its message, before working on our very own ‘side of the book'. For some children, it was an opportunity to begin a discussion around their own personal troubles as one child drew themselves taking a sledgehammer to their wall - desperate to stand out and be noticed. For others, a chance to understand how their strengths and weaknesses work together; making them them! Then it was time to share. Each member of the class chose someone with whom they do not normally spend time. In pairs, they stuck their ‘sides of the wall' together and looked at their final pieces of art. Conversation around the room, between children who do not usually speak with one another, quickly turned to strengths and weaknesses and how to overcome obstacles.
Jane Mullane Headteacher Mersey Vale Headteacher and Annemarie O'Dywer St Winifred's RC Headteacher have been linking over 10+ years.
Job Titles:
- Bradford Primary Linking Programme Officer
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- Learning Officer, the Laing Gallery
Kent Schools Linking Programme - led by Tracy Crute and Bhupinder Gill, The Education People, Kent EDIT@theeducationpeople.org
Kirklees Schools Linking Programme led by David Raven-Hill, Kim Stickland and Monica Deb, Community Heritage Consultants for the Carry My Story School Linking Programme in Kirklees Council - David Raven-Hill drhconsultancy@icloud.com,, Kim Strickson kim_scrapping@btinternet.com and Monica Deb future360uk@gmail.com
Leeds Schools Linking Programme led by Hannah Langdana, Global Issues Global Subjects Coordinator, Leeds Development Education Centre and Leeds City Council -Hannah@leedsdec.org.uk
Leicester & Leicestershire Schools Linking Programme led by Ruth Sinhal, Education Consultant at the St Philip's Centre, Leicester -school.linking@stphilipscentre.co.uk
London/Waltham Forest Schools Linking Programme led by Amy Ark amy.ark@faithbeliefforum.org Programme Co-ordinator, and Carrie Alderton carrie.alderton@faithbeliefforum.org, Education & Learning at The Faith & Belief Forum
Luton Schools Linking Programme led by Kat Field and Penny Whelan, Assistant Headteacher and Inclusion Manager , SLT, Hillborough Junior School, Luton Borough Council -lashamp@hillborough.juniorluton.co.uk and fieldk@hillborough.juniorluton.co.uk
Manchester Schools Linking Programme led by HOME Manchester - lisa.allen@homemcr.org; saffron.rain@homemcr.org
Newcastle & Gateshead Schools Linking Programme led by Joy Youngman and Kevin Christensen, Learning Officer, The Laing Gallery and The Shipley Gallery, on behalf of Newcastle City Council- lainglearning@twmuseums.org.uk
Oldham Schools Linking Programme led by Suzy Chapman, Study Support Manager, Integrated Youth Service, Health and Wellbeing, Oldham Council - suzy.chapman@oldham.gov.uk
Pendle Schools Linking Programme led by Rauf Bashir, Project Manager, Building Bridges Pendle - rauf@buildingbridgespendle.org.uk
Job Titles:
- Administration Officer
- Finance
Rochdale Schools Linking Project is led by the Equalities Team (Rochdale Borough Council) and has been running since 2017. Initially involving 14 classes from 12 schools, the programme has expanded year on year; building a sense of togetherness with other children and creating shared learning adventures. Through the pandemic, when we were unable physically link, we put together a bank of useful websites with home learning ideas and online safety guidelines, on our Home School Heroes page, please take a look!
We are lucky enough to work with the fabulous M6 Theatre. Based in Rochdale, M6 Theatre is one of Britain's leading theatre companies, specialising in creating and delivering dynamic, high quality and relevant productions for young audiences; not only do they offer a joyful linking experience, but build life skills too!
Rochdale Schools Linking Programme Erica Field, EMA Teaching and Learning Adviser (KS2-4), School Improvements Team, Rochdale Borough Council - erica.field@rochdale.gov.uk
Rotherham/Sheffield Schools Linking Programme led by Rob Unwin, Global Education Adviser, with Zaidah Ahmed, Development Education Centre (South Yorkshire) - rob.unwin@decsy.org.uk
Stockport Schools Linking Programme led by Julie-Ann McCulloch, Ethnic Minority Specialist Teacher, and Sarah Beardwood, Ethnic Minority Achievement Team, Ethnic Diversity Service, Stockport Council - julie.ann.mcculloch@stockport.gov.uk sarah.beardwood@stockport.gov.uk
Job Titles:
- Community Development Expert
Linking teacher Will Lines told us ‘our boys really enjoyed the first link day, working with their contemporaries from Forest School. By exploring ideas around identity, they learnt a great deal not only about students from the linking school but were also prompted to examine their own ideas of community and belonging'.
Job Titles:
- Equalities and School Improvement Manager for Children 's Services, Buckinghamshire