Pupils represent UK at international level

Year 11 students from Highfields School, in Matlock, have been selected alongside pupils from 14 other schools in the UK to take part in the Worldwide Commonwealth Games project.

Students will take part in weekly online debates and work on collaborative projects with nine other schools from Africa, Canada, the Indian subcontinent, and the Caribbean in the run up to the games in Glasgow this summer.

The youngsters will be mentored by British Paralympic swimmer, Susie Rodgers, who won three bronze medals at her Olympic debut at London 2012.

Jayne Allen, school sport coordinator at Highfields in the Rural Derbyshire School Sport Partnership, said: “We will be linked to nine other Commonwealth schools from across the globe and we can’t wait to engage with each school and take up the challenges the project brings.

“We’re also excited about being linked with Paralympic swimmer Susie Rodgers as she prepares for the Games.

“This project will build on the amazing experience we had as a World Class Olympic Dream School in the run up to London 2012 when we were linked with Australian swimmer Emily Seebohm, who we still keep in touch with.”

The project, entitled ‘The Commonwealth Class’, is a partnership between the BBC, the British Council and the Commonwealth Secretariat, bringing together 15 British schools with students from across the Commonwealth to learn how to make the most of their place in the Commonwealth and wider world.

Year 11 students Oli Walden and Anabelle MacGregor will be team captains for this project.

The students’ first task is to upload facts and photos about Highfields School to a shared space on the class website and a to create a presentation about a typical day at school.

The first online debate takes place on Thursday, February 27, on the subject of school voice and councils.