In spite of – or in many cases because of – the UK leaving the EU, many students are eager to learn more about it. They understand that their lives will still be deeply affected by our closest neighbour and biggest trading partner. So can this be used as a vehicle to encourage more and more students to delve deeper into politics, culture, history, geography and social action? Our experience with the pilot of the European Parliament Ambassador Schools (EPAS) programme shows that it can.
Get informed, get involved and get political!
Charlotte richer, EPAS Senior Ambassador, English Teacher and Enrichment Coordinator – The cherwell school
In this short CPD session we share:
- The rationale for teaching about the EU
- Links across the curriculum and beyond
- Free teaching resources
- How an an Oxfordshire secondary school and an Essex college have engaged their students through EPAS
- Support and funding from the European Parliament for your school/college
- How to get free training for staff in Brussels/Strasbourg
You can watch the full 30-minute session here:
Sign up for EPAS 2021-22
Methods used by The Cherwell School and USP College
I could stand off and let them lead it, that’s the excellent part.
Reece Nelson, EPAS Senior Ambassador & Teacher of History & Politics – USP College
In the CPD, two of our pilot institutions highlight a number of the activities their students were involved in and ran for their peers:
- Online discussion with ex-MEP, Glyn Ford, on the rise of the far-right in Europe.
- Researching and contacting the European Space Agency about the UK’s continuing role with it.
- Running social media channels.
- Writing articles for full publication.
- Creating an EU InfoPoint.
- Cultural event at a college open day: music, food, how to get involved.
- Themed days: values, collaboration & leadership, arts & culture, future of the EU.
- Formal debates.
- Researching countries to become (unofficial) ambassadors for them.
- Workshops on their personal political values.
- External guests: working in science, politics and ex-MEPs.
- Workshops on different ways to influence politics and society.
- Writing articles about specialist areas on school blogs.
- Film screenings.
- Takeover lessons: lessons run by EPAS Junior Ambassadors for Y7 & Y8 on social well-being, climate change & quality of life.
- Euro football tournament.
Key resources:
- Europe@School: https://epas.org.uk/learning-resources/
- What Europe Does for Me: https://www.what-europe-does-for-me.eu/en/portal
- European Youth Portal: https://europa.eu/youth/home_en
- European Day of Languages: https://edl.ecml.at/