Trip to our link school Tsolo High School Mrs Webster, Miss Partridge and Miss Lewis spent February half term visiting Tsolo High School, our link school in South Africa. South Africa

The School Gate

On the left hand side of this photo, you can see Dutch Reform Church Primary School (DRC). The 2 building on the right are Tsolo High School. Tsolo High was started by the community in 2005 and they still have no real premises.

The Toilet Block The toilet block was basic and whilst we were there it was very hot and consequently there was no running water, so the toilets did not flush and there was nothing to wash your hands with.

The Caretaker’s House

This is one of the grade 12 classes, as you can see there are almost 80 learners (pupils) in this class.

Assembly at Tsolo High School Assemblies are held outside as they don’t have a building big enough for the whole school.

The Netball Court Their netball courts are very basic.

The Sports Field The sports fields at Tsolo High. Notice the cows on the field and also how pupils run barefoot.

Dutch Reform Church Junior School DRC is Tsolo High School’s feeder school.

The Principals of DRC and Tsolo High School

The grounds at DRC Junior School.

Break time at DRC Junior School.

Visiting a class at the primary school.

Many of the learners go without breakfast, then at school their lunch consists of bread, a teaspoon of butter and a slice of polony. Learners spread the butter with either their fingers or a ruler. For many learners this is their only meal of the day.

Nelson Mandela was brought up in the very region that Tsolo High School is situated. So whilst we were out there we visited the Nelson Mandela museum in Umtata.

Life in South Africa Life in the Eastern Cape of South Africa is very different to life in the UK. Many people live in mud huts, with no electricity and no water.

An assembly lead by teachers from LHS

A Maths Lesson We observed a series of lessons during the week and we were shocked at the limited teaching resources each class had. At the end of the teaching day the girls sweep the floors with twigs and the boys tidy the tables.

A Parachute Lesson During the visit, we were able to teach some lessons. Miss Lewis taught an interactive maths lesson on the beauty of mathematics and Mrs Webster had taken a parachute in her luggage which she was able to leave for Tsolo High to use in the future.

A Self-esteem Lesson Miss Partridge taught a lesson on self-esteem.

Afterward the lessons, we were able to make a wall display using the learners’ work. They really appreciated this as they didn’t have any work on the walls.

The School’s First Wall Display

LHS pupils put together a scrap book to take to Tsolo High, to show what school life in England is like.

Giving out LHS pencils

The Fountain Pens Before we left, Mrs Dance contacted W H Smiths and they kindly donated 20 fountain pens. We were able to give these as presents to the teachers.

The Football T-shirts Donated by LHS Here are some photos of us handing out the football T-shirts that LHS pupils helped collect. The learners were really excited.

So thank you to everyone who donated football T-shirts So thank you to everyone who donated football T-shirts. One teacher at the school said “You have made our learners feel special.”

One of the teachers at Tsolo High School, made a wall hanging as a present for us.

South African Cultural Day On the last day of our trip, they took the whole school off timetable and had a special cultural day to say goodbye to us.

Pupils in traditional Xhosa dress.

Traditional African Dancing

Staff from both schools say good bye