AS the second Cold War begins a Wyre Forest village school is reaching out to countries as far away as Eastern Europe.

Far Forest Lea Memorial CE Primary School will welcome 25 children and their teachers from Latvia, Estonia, Denmark and Spain in May.

The trip, delayed due to Covid, has been planned through the Erasmus Project, which brings European children together. It is one of the latest educational developments spearheaded by executive headteacher Shelley Reeves-Walters and the Severn Academies Educational Trust (SAET).

In her 10th year as headteacher at SAET’s Wolverley Sebright Primary Academy, Mrs Reeves-Walters became executive headteacher of the school and of Far Forest, following a request from its governors in 2019 when the school also became an associate member of SAET.

Far Forest has now applied for full membership of the trust’s family of schools and after three years with Mrs Reeves-Walters at the helm, she says the school is benefiting from collaboration with Wolverley Sebright and as part of SAET.

She said: “Far Forest has a clear vision which has brought the staff together with a common goal. This, along with the trust providing staff support and more opportunities for pupils, is making a fantastic impact on teaching and learning and pupils’ broader development.

“Building an understanding of diversity for children in a small village school through the Erasmus Project is a great way of supporting them to become global citizens.”

Chris King, SAET chief executive, said: “The very special uniqueness of each school is being maintained whilst the joint leadership and the trust is bringing the best of both together for the benefit of pupils and staff.”

It is hoped a reciprocal Erasmus trip will be possible next year, taking Far Forest pupils to meet other European children in Spain.