Kingsley was delighted on Friday 18 April to sign a global partnership agreement with Mahamaya Girls’ School from Kandy, Sri Lanka. Mrs Senani Wijeratne, the partnership coordinator from Mahamaya School, who is the aunt of Junior School pupil Nipuni, had spent the week at Kingsley with her two daughters Tilini and Salini. It was a pleasure to welcome them all and they charmed everyone who met them.

On Thursday 17 April a reception was held in Mrs Wijeratne’s honour, attended by the Mayor and his wife, Councillor and Mrs David Greenwood, the Chair of Warwick District Council and his wife, Councillor and Mrs Les Caborn, President Elect of Warwick Avon Rotary club Francis Arnold, representatives from the Friends of Kingsley and from Warwick University's Sri Lankan Society and a number of parents and staff.

Councillor Greenwood with Mrs Wijeratni, her niece Nipuni and Headteacher Mrs Mannion Watson

Mrs Bailey, Kingsley’s partnership coordinator, explained that in conjunction with Mahamaya School, Kingsley pupils are investigating waste and recycling in both countries: our youngest pupils have already made models of dinosaurs from recycled materials. A second project aims to share knowledge about traditional and festive foods in the UK and Sri Lanka.

Mrs Wijeratne & Mrs Bailey

Kingsley presented Mrs Wijeratne with a book about the school, some core text books, pupil's artwork, DVDs to help with English GCSE lessons, a photo frame and various items of school memorabilia. Mrs Wijeratne very kindly reciprocated with a book about Mahamaya School along with a number of photos, local jewellery and a selection of tea - teaching staff were delighted to be given tea after each lesson the Wijeratne family had observed!

The purpose of the partnership is to raise young people’s awareness of global development issues and equip them with the skills and knowledge to become active global citizens. Kingsley hopes to build a long term relationship with Mahamaya which could lead to students and staff being able to visit each other’s school.