Children at a Penryn Primary Academy were introduced to a new way of life last week when they welcomed three teachers from Mumbai as part of a Connecting Classrooms project.

The school has been working in close partnership with the Children's Academy and Gundecha Education Academy in the Indian city since 2012 as part of the British Council funded initiative. Pupils from the partnered schools have collaborated on various projects over the three years including an internet safety charter, the sharing of aspirations, and a book of children’s recipes.

Jerry Marks, year four teacher at Penryn, said: “Our partnership with Children’s Academy and Gundecha Education Academyhas enabled us to break down international barriers, challenge stereotypes, raise aspirations and prepare our pupils to compete in the global economy.”

The pupils and staff at Penryn Primary Academy have set up a blog style website to allow them to maintain relationships with the children in Mumbai when the project finishes in July. The school will further their involvement with the initiative in September by partnering with Shree Jana Udhdar Primary School in Nepal.

Stephanie Wetherelt, year four teacher at Penryn, added: “The children had just sent greeting letters to our next partner school when the earthquake struck. Both parents and children came into school after hearing the news with ideas on how we could help those effected. We’re very lucky to be part of such a caring community.”

Penryn Academy has raised over £700, which will be sent directly to Shree Jana Udhdar Primary School to help them in the aftermath of the Gorkha earthquake.