Strengthening Global Connections: Our Partnership with Spain

At Pilton Bluecoat Academy, we are proud of our long-standing international partnership with a school in Spain, a relationship rooted in shared values, cultural exchange, and a commitment to global learning. This partnership began many years ago through Erasmus+ projects, which enabled both schools to collaborate closely and build strong, lasting connections.

Although Covid-19 and Brexit brought an end to the external funding that initially supported this work, both schools have remained committed to continuing the partnership. Our collaboration now flourishes through regular communication and carefully planned curriculum links that give real-world meaning to our pupils’ learning.

Today, our joint work is focused in Year 4, where we have aligned the partnership with key curriculum themes to enhance pupils’ knowledge and understanding. One standout example is our ‘Misty Mountains, Winding Rivers’ topic. As part of this geography-led unit, pupils study the physical features of the Spanish locality — including its mountains and rivers — and compare them with those in North Devon. This cross-cultural exploration fosters not only geographical understanding but also appreciation for how landscapes influence communities and lifestyles.

We also extend this learning into other curriculum areas. In Design and Technology, for instance, pupils undertake projects inspired by rivers and their uses, helping them connect global learning to practical, creative outcomes.

Every two years, a group of our pupils travels to visit the partner school in Spain. These visits are much more than sightseeing trips — they offer children the chance to collaborate with Spanish pupils on joint projects, build friendships, and experience everyday life in another country. Host family meals are a highlight, offering a wonderful opportunity to share cultures, traditions, and language in an authentic, personal setting.

Communication between our schools is ongoing and dynamic. Staff regularly connect via video conferencing, WhatsApp, and email, while children exchange pen pal letters and take part in video calls, ensuring that relationships grow beyond the classroom and across borders.

Our most recent visit took place in October 2023, and we are excited to return in October 2025. We are also actively supporting our Spanish partner school as they explore the possibility of a reciprocal visit, further strengthening the cultural exchange and deepening the impact of this partnership.

This collaboration continues to provide inspiring, real-life learning experiences, helping children develop a sense of global citizenship, curiosity, and respect for others — skills and values that are central to our school’s vision of ‘Building Brighter Futures’.