Teesdale School in Barnard Castle heard this week that it had been successful in a bid for EU funding to support a link with a school in Bulgaria. The funding will enable students from Teesdale, who are following the Construction course, to work with Bulgarian students on a building project over the next two years. The partner school is in Koprivshtitsa, a small rural town which is famous for its old buildings and the use of traditional materials in construction. Teesdale School was one of 32 schools in the UK and the only school in the North-East to be awarded this grant.
The link between the schools follows an approach from Craig Harper, a former student of Teesdale, who now lives and works in Bulgaria. Craig was aware that the school in Koprivshtitsa was looking for an English school to work with and that Teesdale School held an International Award. Subsequent discussions led to both schools agreeing a partnership which has now been awarded a Comenius grant from the EU.
The grant means that 12 students from Teesdale will visit Bulgaria in October. They will be looking with their Bulgarian counterparts at developing construction techniques using traditional and renewable materials. The Bulgarian students will then return to Teesdale in April next year where they will be accommodated at the Hub and will work on a similar project over here.
Commenting in the award, Headteacher, Paul Harrison said: ‘This is great news. Most overseas trips tend to focus on languages but this project is unique. It will enable our Construction students, some of whom do not have opportunities to travel, to explore a different culture and learn about traditional methods used in Eastern Europe. We also hope that it will raise their awareness of the need for people in the Construction industry to work in other countries or alongside other nationalities.’
Contact Paul Harrison 01833 638166