DARLINGTON pupils will get a taste of the exotic when their school is twinned with one in India.

St Aidan’s Church of England Academy will take part in a major school twinning project set up to boost global education.

Pupils and staff will work with Dayanand Public School in India hoping to become better citizens whilst gaining an insight into a different culture.

Staff members Richard Johnson and Steph Francom will travel to the school to deliver an international learning experience as part of the Connecting Classrooms initiative.

They will focus on projects related to steelmaking and industry, as both schools are situated close to industrial areas. Assistant Principal Ms Francom said she plans to make a documentary on their return, which will give students a better understanding of life in India.

She said: “I am a great believer that travel broadens the mind. All experiences of other countries and cultures enrich you as a person and this project will help our students to realise that the neighbours are not just the people of Teesside and Redcar. It will help them realise what a big world this is, that with globalisation their neighbours are also the people of India.”

Swrna Mishra, the Principal, and Rakhi Choudhary, from Dayanand Public School, in Jamshedpur, said the collaboration will ensure development of a global skill in self awareness, a positive sense of identity and development of a sense of interdependence.