Whitby High student group arrives into Capetown for I D Mkhise High, Sivive School of Skills and Sokhanyo Primary, Gugulethu

Capetonian Headteachers and their key global teachers patiently waited for the slow release of their UK twin school from International arrivals. To then find out that one British student's bag had been mistakenly taken, resulting in one very unhappy student  The atmosphere was quickly dispelled as the schools re-united after many years of international collaboration and friendships going way back.
What a week ahead is planned,with much preparation having gone before with Capetown learners working physically to clear the ground (thank you staff and learners at School of Skills) for a brand new adventure playground to be built utilising the Jungle Mania company locally. In addition an ambitious and meaningful wall mural to paint for the Sokhanyo Primary children to enjoy in the future as they play.All this has come together with commendable leadership of ID Mkhise, Sivive School of Skills and Sokhanyo's School Principals. We still await the arrival of the Zimbabwian twinned teachers and learners this Sunday to join in the action this coming week.

Welcome back to your second home Krysia and team and thank you for your passion and compassionate on-going efforts

Wynberg Girls High's UK and ZIM Headteachers visit them in Capetown 2016

With the Matric final "thrash" being a braai (South African word for barbeque) and tented sleepover , their UK Headteacher joined in, undaunted by a blusterly gale threatening to swallow up the tents.

Wynberg's Shirley Harding welcomes her and their Zim Head, Mike Lusaba, even as the 2016 academic year makes a strong start in South Africa

This is a lovely partnership spanning over many years due to committed school leadership.

Battswood Primary SA and Crossdale Primary ZIM meet in Manchester at Crossacres Primary

Kim and Mildrade meet some colourful characters in Liverpool on a cultural introduction to the North West of England   John Higham from Crossacres Primary, always the most amazing host

Happy summer holidays for Southern African teachers and learners !

Following a very full year of teacher exchanges in four different directions, our schools' academic year comes to a close shortly - firstly exam marking, reports and a month long well deserved summer break

In 2016, we look forward to a number of student group visits in the UK February half term break, one of which will entail the building of an Elephant playground at Sokhanyo Primary  by students from Whitby High (I D Mkhise High's Capetown twin school) in conjunction with Capetown's Jungle Mania company.  Joining in will be learners and teachers from their Zimbabwean twinned schools too who will make the pilgrimage by bus . A real thank you to the staff and learners from Whitby High in advance for all the fundraising efforts to improving the lives of Sokhanyo's young learners, who will soon have exercise and fun in their school's play times.

We also look forward to a student group visit from Headlands High, North East England to spend time at Sibelius High, Retreat, Capetown, when they will be welcomed by the Headmaster Armien Samodien.

Devonport Girls High ( UK ) and Nsezi High (ZIM ) twin Principals to finally visit their Capetown twin, Wynberg Girls High school.

With the closing off of the Connecting Classrooms current grant, comes their next one in 2016, which we will update you on in the new year.

We have been forging close ties with an organisation involved in wildlife education which inspires learners to value the natural creatures in our countries, and the importance of preserving and protecting them. We are alarmed at the escalating numbers of rhinos and elephants being poached in our game parks and on our borders. If only the truth be known that crushed ivory has no medicinal effect as is widely thought in China and Vietnam creating the demand and opportunities for poaching. We would like to encourage partners to involve their schools more in appreciating the risks of unsustainable practices which ultimately will lead to the disappearance of wildlife ,with a devastating impact on tourism and jobs.  To this end we will pick up this conversation with yourselves in the new calendar year and already have begun to share with a number of Capetown twinned schools . Please see their website www.greenwallofafrica.com

We also wish our UK colleagues a happy winter Festive Season!  

Bergvliet High's UK twin Neston High, Cheshire, in Capetown with student group

Super staff team welcomes their long standing Cheshire twin group despite a hectic time of year This includes learners trying to crack the code of letters written by their friends from far away! Great literacy and maths sharing inspiring learners and teachers.

Another happy exchange to Alexander Sinton High from University of Chester Northwich Academy

This time an English teacher experienced the warmth of Adela's team   A very reluctant goodbye back to Cheshire...

Plymouth teachers welcomed to their Capetown twins - Zimasa, Morgenson, St Clements, Westpoort primaries