Our Partnership with St Joseph’s CBSE School, Bangalore, India

At Pilton Infants' School, we believe that global learning is essential in helping our pupils make sense of the increasingly globalised, complex, and rapidly changing world. It enables them to think critically about global issues and understand how our actions impact others.

We recognise that even young children in Key Stage 1 can sometimes express negative attitudes towards other cultures and places. In an increasingly interconnected world, it's more important than ever to foster understanding and empathy towards the world’s people and places. We also understand that many children at KS1 have already formed negative and stereotypical attitudes about distant places, often influenced by subliminal messages and media. Therefore, we are committed to using education to address these misconceptions early on.

Given the challenges of providing direct experience of distant places to young primary school children, we want to explore how teaching and learning can address these misconceptions effectively. This is where our partnership with St Joseph’s CBSE School in Bangalore, India, becomes vital.

About St Joseph’s CBSE School, Bangalore

• Principal: Rev. Father Rohan D’Almedia
• Number of Students: Over 2,000
• Established: 2014
• Website: St Joseph’s CBSE School

St Joseph’s CBSE School is run by the Jesuits and focuses on blending spiritual values with academic excellence. Their mission is to help students discover and appreciate God’s creation through education, fostering compassion, creativity, and critical thinking.

A Special Visit and Event: Arcanum Fest

In August 2024, our CEO, Ian Thomas, had the privilege of being the Chief Guest at the Arcanum Fest, celebrating the 10th anniversary of St Joseph's CBSE School.

The event was a fantastic showcase of talent and enthusiasm, featuring:

• Syntheto: A thrilling music contest
• Zenith Arc: Intense basketball games
• Moot Court: A legal simulation where aspiring lawyers showcased their skills
• Identity Theft: A public speaking contest
• Occulus: An interactive mystery-solving event

 

The celebration concluded with a fun DJ night, leaving everyone excited for the next edition. Whilst at the school our CEO had the opportunity to address the pupils and staff from all the participating schools. He spoke about the value of perseverance, teamwork, and global connections and led to inspiring conversations with the students and staff.

 

Key Meetings and Future Collaboration

Following the event, there were productive meetings with the Principal and the Global School Partnership (GSP) leaders. Both parties shared a strong passion for engaging younger children in partnership activities, particularly those in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

The discussions explored opportunities for collaboration between teachers, including a comparison of EYFS teaching practices in the UK and India. St Joseph's GSP leaders are committed to deepening their understanding and collaboration, as evidenced by their upcoming British Council training on developing international partnerships.

Looking Ahead

Our partnership with St Joseph’s CBSE School represents an exciting opportunity for our students to learn about different cultures, build empathy, and develop a global perspective. The enthusiasm and forward-thinking leadership at St Joseph’s make us confident that this collaboration will be both impactful and enriching for everyone involved.