A THUNDERSLEY secondary school has been chosen to fly the flag for the UK and build links with Africa as part of a major twinning project.

The King John School, in Shipwrights Drive, will develop international links with Kenya and Ethiopia as part of a new initiative called Connecting Classrooms that aims to boost global education.

The school has been chosen in recognition of its commitment to teaching students about global issues.

Teachers and students are now working with Chilalo Terara School, in Ethiopia, and Nairobi School, in Kenya, to learn how to become responsible global citizens and develop skills to work in a global economy.

Hina Robinson, international coordinator at the King John School, said: “Through Connecting Classrooms we want to develop a sustainable three-way partnership where schools can learn from each other and students can collaborate on projects which cover very relevant topic areas.

“This will support students in all three schools to become global citizens. Teachers will also have a chance to share and develop best practice.”

The programme will see maths and science teacher Linda Rooney travel from Thundersley to Africa for an exchange visit where she will work on classroom-based projects with the two schools to give young people a “unique and hands-on international learning experience”.

Justine Greening, secretary of state for international development, added: “I am very pleased the King John School is taking on this excellent opportunity to link with schools in other parts of our world.

“Young people and teachers can make a fantastic contribution by sharing the best of Britain with their peers around the world and at the same time, the great thing is that they can get invaluable knowledge of what life is like in other countries.”

Connecting Classrooms is a UK government and British Council education project.

Schools up and down the country can benefit from a range of support offered by the scheme.