Academy’s Ukraine partnership

The academy’s link with a Ukraine school takes a huge step forward next week when Ms Barker flies to Poland to meet those involved.

Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer announced earlier this year the academy was one of only 100 nationwide selected to join the British Council’s schools’ programme that supports efforts to forge greater ties with the war-torn country.

English teacher Ms Barker is leading the project because the focus is on literacy and reading for pleasure.

She flies out to Krakow on Sunday where she will meet up with the lead teacher from Ukrainian school Luhyn Lyceum №2, which is in the town of Luhyny in the Zhytomyr region in the west of the country.

Ms Barker is looking forward to the three-day trip, funded by the British Council.

“I am extremely excited to take part in this programme,” she said. “It seems to have come around so fast!

“I can’t wait to meet my opposite number face-to-face in Poland and plan how Louth students can support and learn from students in Ukraine.”

She has chosen class 9L1 to take part due to their success with Sparx Reader last year and their interest in English.

“This week, we have been writing letters to take to our partner school, as well as having a class photograph to introduce ourselves.

“The students of 9L1 are very enthusiastic at the thought of being able to interact with other school students who not only speak a different language, but also come from a completely different culture.

“They are eager to get involved, to discover the similarities our schools share and to learn about the cultural differences too.

“It is difficult to say exactly what we will be doing moving forward as it will be a collaborative plan, but we will be looking at various ways to support and encourage our classes to read for pleasure.”

Principal Joe Hermiston wished Ms Barker a safe and successful journey.

“This experience will be invaluable in helping our students to diversify their perspectives,” he said.

“Many of them may not often consider life outside of Louth Academy or even Lincolnshire, but by interacting with a school overseas, they will be reminded of the wider world beyond their immediate community.

“It will open their eyes to new ideas, new ways of life and hopefully inspire them to think more globally about their own futures, all through the context of reading, which is at the heart of Louth Academy.

“We thank the British Council for its support and helping us connect and collaborate with our partner school.”

Previously, Mr Starmer had thanked the academy for supporting the schools programme under the UK’s 100-year partnership with Ukraine.

“This historic partnership, which I was proud to sign in Kyiv earlier this year together with President Zelenskyy, is a statement of our unshakeable commitment to Ukraine,” the Prime Minister wrote.

“We have all been outraged by what the Ukrainian people have endured, moved by their bravery, and determined to help in any way we can.

“The schools’ programme is part of this, as a clear illustration of the deep bonds between our two countries.”

Ms Barker with class 9L1, having written letters to their partner school in Ukraine.