Scottish Government

How to get started

At the national twinning seminar in May 2006 those who had run effective twinning arrangements made a number of suggestions on what those setting up a new twinning arrangement should consider. Some of the key suggestions were:

• pick an event to start
  Picking a specific event to mark the start of a twinning arrangement helps focus the minds of pupils, teachers, and parents. It gives you an opportunity to promote the schools and their twinning work to the wider community and the local media. It can also be a catalyst for turning intentions into a concrete event and plan.
• undertake sufficient preparation
  Effective planning helps ensure the success of a twinning arrangement. The planning process also gives you an opportunity to build up relationships with your partner school, and decide what will be the aims and methods of your twinning arrangement.
• don't aim too high
  Start with an achievable twinning project. A smaller project will generally be easier to manage and allow you to learn what does and does not work in your schools and community.
• consider the practicalities
  If pupils will be visiting and working in each other's schools, you will need to think about how exactly this will work, and who will supervise them. If you are considering outside trips who will arrange them, and who will pay for them? Addressing these practicalities early on will save possible difficulties later.
• be determined
  Twinning brings real benefits, but can also mean dealing with obstacles. Effective planning, good communication, and determination should allow you to identify and overcome obstacles. The good practice examples show how other schools in twinning arrangements have tackled obstacles.
• ensure sustainability
  Think about the long-term sustainability of your twinning arrangement. Think ahead, so that when one twinning project ends another, or an extension of the first, is in place. Fostering support for twinning in the school and community will help maintain momentum if your champion moves on.