Garth Erasmus and the Y9 group he worked with to produce a school mural at Axe Valley Community College.

In February 2007, DCS is co-ordinating a second study tour to Cape Town. The aim is to rejuvenate the school links programme which began in 1998. The recent government document "Putting the World in World Class Education" sets the target of all UK schools having an international partner by 2010. The Crossings project has enabled Eighteen Devon primary and secondary schools to take up a South African partner school. Work is already beginning to establish contact with partner schools and develop work which meets one or more of the following project aims:

• To establish working links which promote cultural diversity as an enrichment to all our lives
• To celebrate cultural connections and cultural diversity through an exchange of images, music, artefacts and stories and a study of historical and economic contexts.
• To explore the way cultural identity is reflected through art forms
• To develop an understanding of the way information can be exchanged through telecommunication, IT and the Internet.

As part of the build up to the visit, Garth Erasmus, artist and musician, spent June working in 7 schools. On his return to Cape Town, he will develop similar workshops in linked schools as part of the process of establishing robust links between schools.

A further phase of the project will take place in February 2009 and anyone interested should contact the project co-ordinator, Martin Phillips.

Garth Erasmus at East-the-Water primary school working on a Y4 art project

July 2006

Tim Arnold
Steve Cayley
Richard Knights
Martin Phillips
Devon Curriculum Services