This morning, I was at Stratford Manor Primary School with fellow Newham MP Uma Kumuran and Minister Stephen Doughty. Stratford Manor is part of a UK-Ukraine School Partnership supported by the Foreign Office and British Council.
We had the chance to see this partnership in action.
Stratford Manor Primary School is partnered with Lyceum 101 in Kyiv, Ukraine and today across a live link the children chatted. They spoke about Christmas. What was different between a Christmas in Newham and Kyiv but also, what’s shared. This included a joint appreciation for Christmas films like Home Alone and The Grinch. The link between the students is celebrated in wonderful displays around the school and they are all enthusiastic to learn about each other’s countries, lives and cultures.
I am always impressed by the students we have here in East London especially when they are given the opportunity to speak up. After their video call they had a chance to ask me, Uma and the Minister questions. I am now used to the hard-hitting questions that come out of a classroom in West Ham and Beckton, but I was glad to see that the Minister got the same treatment!
We spoke about our work here in the UK, but students also asked questions about what is happening around the world. A care and concern that has likely grown through their connection with their counterpart school in Ukraine.
Well done to students and staff at Stratford Manor Primary School for their hard work and thank you to the Lyceum 101 School in Kyiv and the British Council and Foreign Office for facilitating this connection.
