Teachers from Monkton Priory Learning Centre travelled recently to the Murcia region of Spain as part of a European project which seeks to overcome barriers to secondary school learning among girls from Gypsy, Roma and traveller (GRT) communities.

Inspired by a group of gypsy traveller girls from West Wales, the three-year Erasmus project will look at education, opportunities and inequalities within GRT communities in schools.

Monkton Priory Learning Centre will participate in the project with schools and organisations from Romania and Spain, and after many online meetings, teachers Claire Arnold and Alison Davies made their first face to face visit to their partner school in Murcia in October.

Claire said they will be working collaboratively with eight partner organisations over the next 36 months.

“We will be seeking to gain first-hand inputs and share effective practice on how regions with similar issues face the challenge of engaging GRT families,” she said.

“We will also be developing strategies to reduce barriers preventing GRT children in engaging fully in education.”

“Our shared problem across our three partner regions is the amount of GRT pupils remaining in secondary mainstream education.

“Those who are mobile may face interruptions and a lack of continuity to their education, and whether mobile or not, children/young people from the GRT communities or any Traveller culture, may need support to overcome barriers to learning.”

In the New Year, Claire and Alison from Monkton Priory Learning Centre will meet partners in Romania and start preparations for a pupil conference online, giving learners the opportunity to interact with pupils from the other regions.

In March, Monkton Priory Learning Centre will host both Romania and Spain for five days at Monkton School which will tie in perfectly with St Davids Day celebrations.

“We are looking forward to sharing our success in keeping GRT girls in secondary education with our partners,” said Claire.

Sally Holland, the Children’s Commissioner for Wales is planning to deliver a workshop on The Rights of The Child during the week.

It is hoped during 2022 there will be fewer Covid-19 restrictions in place, and that pupils from Monkton Priory Learning Centre will have the opportunity to visit both Romania and Spain.

The project is led in schools across Wales by International Links Global, following Cardiff Council’s decision to cease providing their successful service (International School Linking).

ILG will work with national and international partners and GRT pupils to look at barriers that impact on them having equality of access and social inclusion within society and within the communities themselves.