All Saints Catholic Primary School in Anfield is the first site to be part of the scheme announced by Keir Starmer
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer joins children from school No 219 in Kyiv, Ukraine, calling in to a lesson of pupils at All Saints School(Image: Getty Images)
A Liverpool primary school has made history as part of a 100-year partnership between the UK and Ukraine. As the two nations signed a century-long collaboration deal this week, All Saints Catholic Primary School in Anfield became the first of its kind to connect with a partner school in Kyiv as a way to share best practices and drive educational standards.
In the presence of leading authors Michael Morpurgo and Liverpool’s own Frank Cottrell-Boyce, the children shared stories with their counterparts in Ukraine who have had their own education heavily disrupted by the devastating war instigated by Russia. They even had a chance to question the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who joined school 219 in Kyiv on their videocall to Liverpool as part of his visit to the country.
Mr Starmer praised the school and its pupils for the “inspiration” they provided and said they had “made history in Liverpool and in Kyiv.” The project, delivered by the British Council in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, will include a first tranche of 50 schools in the UK matched with 50 schools in Ukraine on a year-long reading project, sharing their favourite stories from their own cultures and exploring the benefits of reading.
Schools will be chosen from across the four nations of the UK between January and the scheme launching in late spring. Children in Ukraine have had their education interrupted by Russia’s war.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson (back L) and authors Michael Morpurgo (C) and laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce, during a visit to meet students at the All Saints School in Anfield, Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Thousands of schools have been damaged, while children live in fear of attacks, displacement, or the loss of parents or loved ones. The schools partnership is the first step in our long-term commitment to sharing best practice across both our education systems – aiding Ukraine’s recovery while driving high and rising standards on both sides.
While the Prime Minister spoke remotely, Bridget Phillipson, education secretary was with the children on Oakfield and told the LDRS of the importance of the project. She said: “We know the children in Ukraine have been through unimaginable suffering but as part of the schools programme we want to foster relationships between children in both countries.
“It’s important for children here to have broad horizons, build links and we know it has a big impact on how children perform at school.” Both Mr Morpurgo and Mr Cottrell-Boyce read stories of their own to both sets of children before taking questions.
It was then Sir Keir joined the session from Ukraine amid cheering and flag waving in Anfield. Asked about his own favourite book, the football fan Prime Minister replied Roy of the Rovers, adding: “It’s well known in Anfield but I think a very different team to the ones that are supported there.”
Speaking to the pupils, Sir Keir said: “Looking at you and here in Kyiv is where we get the inspiration. That’s what keeps us going more than anything else.
“You’ve made history in Liverpool and in Kyiv.” Jeremy Barnes, headteacher at All Saints, spoke of his pride at the school being involved with the project.
He said: “We’ve had a long tradition of international partnerships and working with the British Council ever since around 2010. With Eurovision a couple of years ago, the British Council wanted a link between Kyiv and Liverpool.
“We were one of the schools involved, around music, we worked with the school online over a period of weeks and subsequently kept in touch, exchanged gifts, letters and I think for our children it’s very important they understand the world is out there, it’s very different and the best way to learn about those is to encounter them.
“It’s superb for our pupils to know the work that they’re doing and the links they are developing are so important that the Prime Minister is there to speak to them.”