By complementing and extending the curriculum, the Global Classroom provides opportunities for Nord Anglia Education students to learn informally; interact with experts; and collaborate with their peers in other Nord Anglia Education schools around the world.

The Global Classroom programme enables our students to participate in three ways:

1. Online

A secure environment for students to learn anytime, anywhere and extend their learning beyond the school day. It brings students together, from across the family of Nord Anglia Education schools to learn from one another and from world experts. We have two different age appropriate areas: a Primary Global Community for years 4-6 and a Secondary Global Community for year 7+. All members of the community can log in and access the site at any time and from any computer that is connected to the internet. Our students create content, challenge each other and question experts. They can pick and choose what they’d like to get involved with – and with activities from debating to reporting coupled with topics ranging from embryo research to the status of celebrities, there’s something for everyone to engage with. Additionally, there are also opportunities for our students to lead discussions, topics or themes.

2. In-school

Once a year we set a challenge which students work on in their school. In 2011, students were tasked with creating a mural. With the guidance of London-based art company, Edge of Arabia, students were given the freedom to negotiate a space in school, design the mural and decide how to get as many people as possible to contribute. We were inspired by their imagination and ambition and you can see the results for yourself when you come and visit us. The 2012 activity sees our students working with the world famous Pineapple Dance Studio to create and perform in a global competition on Tuesday 20th November, Universal Children’s Day. To enter the competition, students will need to form a dance troupe, choose their own music, use original choreography, create their own outfits and perform their final dance in a distinctive location in their city. Who knows what 2013 will bring, but whatever the brief, students will be guided and inspired by experts and work as part of a team to put their creative skills to the test.

3. Face-to-face

Once a year, students from across the Nord Anglia Education family of schools are invited to participate in the face-to-face element of the Global Classroom experience – the Summit. Last year’s Summit saw a team of Nord Anglia Education students participate in the ‘Hungry for Justice’ Global Student Forum 2012 in London. Other elements of the Summit programme included visiting the UK Houses of Parliament, a question and answer session with UK and EU government aides, meetings with representatives from UK food and international development charities and a private tour of Westminster Abbey. Our students had the unique opportunity to prepare online in a global community of learners and will return to their schools in the Autumn term as peer educators, equipped with the skills and resources to share their learning.

Global Classroom activities supplement the learning that takes place in school and specifically focuses on developing students’ Values, Attitudes and Attributes. These are inquiry, creativity, collaboration, perseverance, concern for society and risk-taking. Students develop these Values Attitudes and Attributes by learning in a flexible way, encountering new opportunities, gaining access to diverse viewpoints and becoming more independent as learners.

To find out more about the range of topics and work that goes on within The Global Classroom, please visit The Global Classroom Newsletter page.