Connecting schools, learning together, celebrating the 2012 Games

Carpenters Primary School pupils present on the Olympic Values

On Friday 15th June at, 9am(GMT) and at 4pm in Taiwan, the opening ceremony of the first ever worldwide schools video conference to celebrate the Olympic Games had already began. This was a "first" for the UK and a "first" for the children across the world who took part in this unique and special event.

Lord Jim Knight passed a baton from Carpenters Primary School in the London Borough of Newham "live" via video link to a pupil at Kang Chaio Bilingual School.  Click here to watch Lord Jim Knight (who has inspired me to organise this Olympic themed VC event for schools ) open the conference.

Lord Knight takes questions from schools in France and UK

Thousands of children from across the UK and beyond joined live over video link connected together via Janet videoconferencing. Schools from Redbridge, Havering, Sutton, Thurrock, Devon, Wigan, Northern Ireland, Cumbria, Shropshire,Taiwan, France and Croatia, to name just a few  regions and countries joined together to interact with the different Olympic themed presentations . Over 280 more schools, parents and governors were watching the live stream hosted by JVCS.

William Brookes School, in Much Wenlock Shropshire gave everyone an insight into their historic Olympic town - well done to the year 7 pupils! The Museum of London gave a comparison of the London Olympics in 1908,1948 and 2012 . The RSC and Kim Hastings from UEL had a quiz for the children about the nutritional needs for different sports athletes.  The RSSCE gave a mathematical session on Olympic values and the torch relay. The children met and interviewed Dwain Bowers (UEL, Volleyball Chair) and watched him perform some ball tricks. Ian Rose, paralympic silver medallist and former World and European Judo Champion talked about the paralympic values that he aspires to and showed children his medals.  Many thanks go to www.aver.com/uk for sponsoring Ian. 

Connecting schools thousands of miles apart and learning together from experts and each other - what a fantastic and exciting way for children to learn and celebrate the forthcoming 2012 Games.

Museum of London: The Olympics past and present

Click here to read comments from the schools that participated on the day and to listen to the closing speech from Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families - Tim Loughton MP  click here