From the forest to the desert: A remarkable school partnership begins
Kielder Primary School and Nursery, nestled in the heart of rural Northumberland with just 12 pupils, has always believed that small doesn’t mean limited. In fact, their remoteness inspires them to think big — especially when it comes to broadening pupils’ horizons and nurturing global perspectives.
And we couldn’t agree more.
That’s why we’re absolutely thrilled to announce their brand new partnership with St Christopher’s School in Bahrain — a large, vibrant international school located in the heart of the Middle East. This collaboration is a unique bridge between two very different worlds, and it’s already proving to be an incredibly exciting journey.
Understanding life in a very different place
On the surface, the two schools couldn’t be more different. One sits amid rolling hills and forests, the other in a dynamic, urban desert setting. One has just over a dozen pupils, the other educates thousands.
But at the heart of both institutions is the same deep commitment to high-quality learning, inclusivity, and preparing children for a global future.
Last week marked a huge milestone: children from both schools met for the very first time in a virtual joint School Council meeting. There were smiles, a few nerves, and lots of questions — thoughtfully prepared by the pupils in advance.
The session was all about getting to know each other, understanding life in a very different place, and beginning to shape what this partnership could look like in the months to come.
An amazing opportunity to broaden their worldview
One particularly proud moment was when Max, a Kielder pupil, greeted his new friends in Arabic, a language he’s been independently learning at home.
Chris Zarraga, Director of Schools North East, said: ““This partnership is a brilliant example of how schools in the North East — no matter how small or remote — are innovating to give their pupils global experiences.
“Connecting with a school like St Christopher’s in Bahrain shows what’s possible when schools think beyond geography. It’s inspiring, and we hope it paves the way for more schools in our region to explore international collaboration.”
For Kielder Primary School and Nursery in particular, global awareness isn’t a luxury, but rather a necessity. Living in such a remote part of the UK can be isolating, but it also opens up opportunities to connect intentionally and meaningfully with others who live and learn in vastly different environments.
Lee Ferris, Head Teacher, captured it perfectly: “We are so excited to have forged this link with St Christopher’s. I am working with the Head Teacher, who is also a resident of Kielder and one of our governors, on curriculum development.
“It made absolute sense to have our children work together to learn about what it’s like to live and learn in a totally different environment. For our children here at Kielder, it’s an amazing opportunity to broaden their worldview as part of our commitment to nurturing an appreciation for other cultures.”
This isn’t just a one-off project — it’s the beginning of an ongoing, evolving collaboration. From joint projects to digital pen pals, shared assemblies to curriculum ideas, there’s so much potential for the children (and the staff!) in both schools to learn and grow together.
Nat Dickinson, Head Teacher at St Christopher’s, shares this excitement. As they put it: “We are delighted to partner with Kielder Primary School and Nursery. Our schools are so different in many ways, yet the high quality learning taking place in both settings is the same!
“The children in both schools will really benefit from having good old-fashioned ‘penfriends’ with the twist of technology — we are excited to work together!”
We can’t wait to see how this partnership flourishes.
Kielder Primary School and Nursery is a Schools North East Partner School. If you’d like to find out more about our Partner School membership, click here.
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