ST Bede's pupils will shortly be finding themselves working much closer with their foreign peers in a new project which will stretch across Europe, writes Helen Clarke.

Project leader and co-ordinator Michel La Vedrine has managed to secure funds from the European Union to develop a project in conjunction with schools in Spain, Italy, Finland and Romania.

Two weeks ago Mr La Vedrine and fellow St Bede's teacher Helena Brook-Carter attended a series of meetings and field trips in and around Igualada in north-east Spain.

Along with their European colleagues, they prepared a programme of study for the pupils which will include work on the theme of rivers in geography and other curricular subjects.

There will be many outcomes from the project. The final one will be a CD Rom featuring work from pupils in the participating countries.

Mr La Vedrine said: The EU set up the Comenius fund where schools are able to apply for money for joint projects, bringing schools in different countries closer together. The bid St Bede's made was successful.

The project will run for a period of three years and as well as focusing on geography it will also incorporate other subjects such as art, English biology and IT.

Next June, staff from the other schools involved in the project will be coming here to share ideas and get a taste of life in English schools.

Our pupils will also get plenty of opportunity to communicate with their peers in Europe. It promises to be an excellent project for both pupils and teachers.