News

EURO CASH FOR HAWKINGE SCHOOLS

Children from the Churchill and Hawkinge Primary schools will be meeting their cross-channel counterparts - thanks to a £100,000 European-funded exchange programme.

The Primary School Partnership, which will run from September, involves five schools - Saltwood, Seabrook, St Martin’s, Hawkinge and Churchill - who will be linking with four primary schools in Boulogne.

It follows a successful two-year project that saw children from St Leonard’s, Brenzett, Brookland and Churchill schools and from four schools in Boulogne taking part in a range of activities. Youngsters enjoyed sports tournaments, picnics, forest walks, treasure trails, bread, cheese and butter making and visits to attractions like Port Lympne, the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway and Nausicaa.

Both of the schools projects have been organised through BOSCO, the Boulogne and Shepway Co-operation association, which has successfully secured around £2 million of funding from the European Interreg programme for a variety of cross-border projects. 

“BOSCO promotes projects that involve groups from both sides of the channel working together,� said Lynn Dockar, BOSCO manager. “The primary schools project aims to give children an insight into - and experience of - different cultures as well as giving them enthusiasm to learn another language. Children who have taken part so far have enjoyed it very much. I am delighted that we have been able to secure this money to carry the project forward for another two years.�

Teachers from Shepway and Boulogne will be meeting in September to launch the new programme.