Education programmes

The Spirit of Friendship Festival education programme, led by the Department for Education and Skills was launched in London and Burnley, Lancashire, on 17 January and Edinburgh on 24 January.

Commonwealth Institute Initiatives

The Commonwealth Games Education Pack was issued to over 30,000 schools across the UK in January. This was followed by a Celebrate our Commonwealth Connections poster, delivered to all schools on Commonwealth Day – March 11

The programme links school sport, the Commonwealth and citizenship in an easily accessible format. Giving a range of ideas of how to explore our commonwealth connections, develop a sense of personal identity, learn about human rights and question issues arising from Globalisation.

Featuring case studies of 10 Commonwealth Athletes, from throughout the Commonwealth. Highlighting their lifestyle choices and explaining what is needed to make it to the top of their sport.

For a pack or poster contact the Institute directly kstephenson@commonwealth.org.uk 0207 603 4535 www.commonwealth.org.uk/education

Livia Final, 9 July – The final stage in a national game included in the education packs sees 5 school finalists bid to host an imaginary Commonwealth Games in 2010 in ‘Livia’.

The five schools will come to Manchester to discuss the issues and potential problems of hosting the Games. Environmental concerns, transport and ticketing are all issues the students have considered when submitting their bid for the games. Good luck to the finalists!

Recipes for Success - New recipe cards have been launched by Education Extra as part of the Spirit of Friendship Festival, to liven up your breakfast!

Students from 5 schools in England have researched athletes and their cultural backgrounds and diet-related performance needs, and developed suitable breakfast recipes. Students considered cultures present in their schools, hygienic food preparation and religious beliefs when preparing the menus, and the result is a tasty and nutritional guide to starting your day!

The students found that, whereas the average woman needs about 1940 kcal of energy per day, female athletes such as Heptathlete Denise Lewis and 800m runner Maria Mutola need much more as they burn off so much energy in training and at competitions like the Commonwealth Games. Sports men and woman alike need a healthy breakfast with plenty of energy if they are to perform to their best standards.

A Commonwealth Curriculum Pack is available to teachers and pupils across the North West region as an online educational website designed to deliver online teaching and learning materials and provide resources to improve information, communications and technology skills. www.ccp2002.com

815 Mini Commonwealth Games, and Counting, Adopt the Spirit of the Festival!

Up to 75,000 children in schools across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland are taking part in a wave of Mini Commonwealth Games festivals. The festivals are being run by 3,000 young leaders as part of the Youth Sport Trust’s TOP Link programme. This encourages links between secondary schools and their local primary and special schools, and gives young people aged 14 to 19 years the opportunity to develop their leadership skills.

The programme is geared to developing the next generation of sports leaders, coaches and officials, as well as enthusing youngsters to take part in, and enjoy, sport.

This year the TOP Link programme forms part of the Spirit of Friendship Festival’s Education Programme – a joint initiative developed by the Youth Sport Trust and the Commonwealth Institute, and funded by the Department for Education and Skills, to explore Britain’s Commonwealth connections through citizenship and sport, in the run up to this summer’s Manchester Commonwealth Games.

Through the Spirit of Friendship Festival and our sport partners, Britain is witnessing one of the largest mobilisations of youth sport ever seen

Mini Games Review

Marjorie McClure Special School, Kent hosted an indoor boccia tournament (a bowls-type game played at the Paralympics). 100 local pupils got involved and were spurred on by the chance to take their place in an official medal ceremony!

St Peter’s RC High School, Cedar Mount School and Wright Robinson Sport College, Manchester , organised a varied fortnight of events for local primary schools. Primary pupils took part in a wide variety of activities including a gymnastics festival, a weightlifting tournament, tag rugby and cycling at the Velodrome in Manchester – one of the Commonwealth Games competition venues.

Whitefield School, Barnet held a multi-activity festival which over 200 primary school pupils attended. Competitions were held in sports such as swimming, basketball and athletics, and there was a closing ceremony at Coptall Athletics Stadium.

Oakwood High School, Manchester held an athletics festival as part of the school’s annual sports day, linking in with primary schools by running a mini athletics festival for Year 6’s. An opening ceremony with music, medals and certificates will gave the pupils a taste of competing in the Commonwealth Games! A team of year 10 girls organised the festival as part of the school’s effort to promote girls’ involvement in sport.

Hot off the press!

5 July – Oakwood High School, Manchester – will hold an athletics festival on the day of the school’s annual sports day, linking in with primary schools by running a mini athletics festival for Year 6’s. An opening ceremony with music, medals and certificates will give the pupils a taste of competing in the Commonwealth Games! A team of year 10 girls have organised the festival as part of the school’s effort to promote girls’ involvement in sport.

8 & 12 July – Westgate Community College, Newcastle-upon-Tyne – Over 800 pupils from 20 schools are taking part in two athletics festivals. All schools have adopted a Commonwealth country and are bringing along a flag on the day, and taking part in an opening ceremony.

12 July – Arrow Vale Community High School & Sports College, Redditch, and Worcestershire – are holding a multi-sport festival with 250 pupils from 8 schools representing different Commonwealth countries. There will be an opening festival and invitations have gone out to local dignitaries and Jacqui Smith MP, who was once a teacher at the school.

Dates for your diary

1–5 July
Local Arts, Global Outlook
Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
21 primary and secondary schools are using the key principles of friendship, cultural diversity, fairness and mutual respect as a framework for art, music, dance and drama
01539 430 231

1 – 12 July
A Wealth of Nations
St Ambrose Barlow Catholic High, Sefton, Liverpool
70 schools are producing an exhibition, musical CD, and are publishing a storybook
0151 934 3435

1 – 12 July
Sanchaar in Reading
Prospect Technological College and Reading International Solidarity Centre
Four Puppeteers from India are working with school pupils making puppets, storytelling, developing a performance presented in school and across town.Barbara Lowe, Solidarity Centre
0118 958 6692

11 July
Mediating the World – How the Media Present the Commonwealth
Young People’s Parliament, Birmingham
1000 pupils from across the city will debate in a replica CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) with funding from the Commonwealth Institute
0121 202 2346

23 July
Rugby Murals
Oakwood High School and Youth Club, Salford
Young people with learning difficulties have produced 4 banners based on the themes of rugby, countries, flags and personalities to present to Salford Rugby Reds at the Walk the Plant outdoor event, Salford Quays.
0161 736 3944

For other events in your area, please check the Festival Events page

Count yourself in

Of course, you may have your own ideas about what you would like to do in your school so why not count yourself in? Visit the Guide for event organisers page.