WHEN it comes to forging international links, Droitwich Spa High School prides itself on being among the best.
Already staff and students have visited several countries, including India, New Zealand and the USA.
But the most successful and well-established link is with the Ngobit Secondary School in Kenya where a staff exchange programme has been in place since 2007.
Staff from Droitwich have been visiting Ngobit on a regular basis since 2007, taking part in practical building projects as well as making curriculum and cultural links.
The exchange is part of the British Council Connecting Classrooms programme where schools collaborate on work in different curriculum areas. Droitwich Spa High School’s partnership with the Boys’ School has been sustained for more than ten years but the current programme is with the Girls’ School.
All students in Kenya have to pay school fees to stay in education beyond the age of 13 so in addition to the exchange programme, Droitwich Spa has sponsored a number of students over the years.
One of the sponsored students – Agnes Wambui Githumbi – has since returned to Ngobit as a teacher.
There are currently two girls and two boys being sponsored.
Students in year eight will take part in fund-raising events throughout the year for them and the sixth-form are giving support through Charities Week in October.
This year, two members of staff from Ngobit, one from the girls’ school and one from the boys’ school have visited Droitwich to continue this important work.
