GLP-W Case Study – Ysgol Cwm Rhymni GLP-W Network
Providing high quality Global Learning professional development for network teachers
Our original GLP-W bilingual network consisted of comprehensive schools form Caerphilly, Torfaen, Rhondda Cynon Taff and Cardiff Local Authorities plus Welsh medium primary schools from Caerphilly CBC. Recently our own feeder primary schools have also joined the network.
What did we want to achieve?
Our priorities were to:
- improve our network schools’ understanding of global learning; and
- equip our network co-ordinators, through training activities, with the confidence and knowledge to support its integration across the curriculum, through classroom teaching and whole school initiatives.
How did we set about it?
As a network we identified our main areas for development and invited GLP-W Approved Providers to attend our network meetings to deliver training on aspects of global learning. Examples of our network’s CPD workshops include:
- Oxfam Cymru; ‘Improving Literacy and Numeracy through global learning’.
- Council for Education in World Citizenship (CEWC); ‘Developing a Deeper Understanding of Global Citizenship’ and ‘Philosophy for Children (P4C) using global learning’.
- Emily Daly, Cardiff Council; ‘International school linking funding opportunities - Erasmus+, Connecting Classrooms, and Developing Efficient Partnerships’.
To focus on other network priorities we also organised our own CPD activities which included:
- A Global Learning resources workshoplooking at a tool for mapping ESDGC against the LNF at Key Stages 2-3(produced by the All Wales ESDGC Local Authority Officer Group), and using pictographs todevelop numeracy through global learning (source: the i newspaper).
- Caerphilly LA ESDGC Guidance for Governors.
- A presentation by the WJEC - "Planning for the Global Citizenship Challenge in the Welsh Baccalaureate”.
- Cynnal Cymru - "The World's Largest Lesson" and "Global Sustainable Development Goals".
- Changemakers - "Making a change in the Fashion Industry"
- Tan Jing, British Council - “Exploring Chinese Culture and Mandarin in our schools".
What was the impact of this work?
Through sharing their knowledge, expertise and good with colleagues in other schools, our Network teachers have gained the knowledge, skills and resources to integrate global learning into their classroom teaching across a range of subjects as well as through whole school initiatives. The meetings have been well attended and have had a very positive impact on practice in our network schools. For example,
“As a result of being part of the GLP-W network, I feel that my co-ordinator is far more confident and has a clear vision for the way forward for us as a school. We have connected with Erasmus + and have been accepted to participate in a project with schools in Denmark.” Ysgol Gymraeg Penalltau
"This is an exciting PLC which has motivated us to appoint a new ESDGC co-ordinator. He has found the network meetings to be very useful and beneficial in aiding him to audit global learning across the curriculum and to share the good practice from the GLP-W network with colleagues in staff training sessions". Lewis Girls School
"You gave an excellent presentation about Improving Literacy and Numeracy through Global Learning and it was good to share ideas and hear about the work that is happening in other schools".Ysgol Bro Edern
“I have received a wealth of resources and ideas to get projects up and running, for example Key Stage 3 pupils enjoyed taking part in our school's Rugby World Cup Global Challenge and we are planning to link with a school in Brazil.”Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun
What do we plan to do next?
As a Network we intend to apply for a professional development Erasmus + grant in order to develop our training further by exploring global learning across the curriculum in other European centres. We will also continue to evaluate the impact of our network’s CPD on our pupils’ learning by developing Global Learning portfolios, collecting feedback from pupils and using findings from inspection reports.