Outwood Primary Academy Bell Lane strengthens international bonds

Since November 2024, Outwood Primary Academy Bell Lane has proudly partnered with Grundschule Miesbach, a primary school in Germany. The partnership is made possible through the UK German Connection, an organisation dedicated to bringing young people from both countries closer together.

Being partner schools is a year-round collaboration. Every summer, staff at Outwood Primary Academy Bell Lane map out a programme of events for the upcoming academic year. From penfriend letters and live video calls to comparing local areas and celebrating each other’s traditional festivals, the pupils love gaining a global perspective.

To strengthen these international bonds, Claire Groves, a teacher at the Ackworth-based school, recently embarked on a four-day visit to Germany, spending three action-packed days immersed in school life at Grundschule Miesbach.

During the visit, Mrs Groves spent time teaching across various classrooms, giving the German pupils a firsthand look at daily life in a British primary school. Beyond Grundschule Miesbach, she also toured the neighbouring middle school, met with staff and the principal to plan future projects, and explored the local area. A true highlight of the trip was joining in the fun at their community school festival!

Commenting on the trip, Mrs Groves said:

“It was an absolute privilege to visit Grundschule Miesbach and experience their wonderful school community firsthand. Teaching the children and sharing what life is like at Outwood Primary Academy Bell Lane was a joy, and they were so eager to learn about our culture. Meeting with the staff and the principal allowed us to lay some fantastic groundwork for the future.

“A huge thank you to the UK German Connection and everyone at Grundschule Miesbach for making me feel so incredibly welcome. This visit has truly strengthened our bond, and I cannot wait to see our partnership continue to flourish.”

Following the successful trip, plans are already in motion for the next school year to keep this international momentum going. Alongside regular festival celebrations and penfriend exchanges, several exciting collaborative projects will be launched:

Pupils will link their art topics, focusing on the theme of "Mountains", a striking, everyday feature of the German landscape.

Children will share and critique each other's artwork inspired by the famous artists Giuseppe Arcimboldo and Pablo Picasso.

An interactive, digital Advent calendar will be created to share and celebrate unique Christmas traditions in both the UK and Germany.