Dreams and Teams is an international linking project run jointly by the British Council and the Youth Sport Trust.  The project links schools from around the globe with Sports Colleges throughout England and uses sport and sport leadership to develop students as global citizens.  Spen Valley Sports College has been linked with St. Anthony’s R/C Basic School in Ghana since November 2006.  St. Anthony’s has approximately 600 students aged three to sixteen years and students are typically taught in a class size of seventy.  Although resources are scarce, St. Anthony’s boasts some of the best academic results nationally.
 D+T-Int-Links-A5-Cards.pdf

The story so far: November 2006: Headteacher Ruth Ayarna and link teacher Michael Kena visit the UK for an orientation and development planning session November 2006 onwards:  The geography department at Spen Valley Sports College runs short term projects showcasing Ghana March 2007:  Headteacher Toby Eastaugh and link teacher Jim Taylor pay a reciprocal visit to Ghana where the partnership development plan is confirmed and agreed April 2007:  Comic relief day raises around £1500 for charity.  It is decided by the school council that some of these funds are utilised to support our link school July 2007: Teacher Marcus Frost visits Ghana and helps establish the sport of Rounders in the school September 2007:  Young leader training in Ghana.  St. Anthony’s introduces the sport of Rounders to other local schools and leads in the training October 2007:  Pen-pals established throughout Spen Valley Sports College and local Primary schools.  Initial scheme involves thirty students December 2007:  Two teachers from St. Anthony’s visit the UK.  Rounders awareness workshop delivered and resources given to visiting teachers.  A series of cultural awareness days run at Spen Valley Sports College and in neighbouring Primary schools.  Djembe drums brought to UK and used to develop musical skills of SVSC students February 2008:  Spen Valley Sports College and St. Anthony’s R/C Basic School submit successful bid to develop languages using our Dreams and Teams link.  Only partnership nationally to be accepted into the innovative scheme. May 2008:  Physical Education and Modern Foreign Languages (PEMFoL) Ambassadors application process launched. Twelve out of twenty three applicants gain successful entry. June 2008:  Lauren Staveley and Heidi Toulson Bennett visit Ghana.  Young leaders trained in use of Rounders.  Young leaders host festival involving students from partner schools.  Festival televised on national TV.  Students produce murals showcasing sport.  Many of these students have never held a paint brush before. July 2008:  PEMFoL Ambassadors programme launched officially. The Future Integrated Humanities build a Ghana project into Year Seven scheme of work from September 2008 onwards Visit of staff and students from Ghana proposed for November 2008 to assist with PEMFoL Ambassadors and develop sports leadership links Art department use Ghanaian cultural influences for projects across KS3 and KS4 Visit of SVSC staff (and possibly students) to Ghana throughout 2009