Teachers from Aurora explore bilingual education during exchange to the United States

During the visit, teachers spent time at Columbus Bilingual Academy North (CBAN), where nine in ten pupils are of Hispanic heritage and English and Spanish are woven throughout the school day to help pupils learn in a fully immersive bilingual environment.

The exchange gave staff the opportunity to observe lessons and speak with students about their experiences, as well as learn how technology and “code-switching” approaches are used to support learning and engagement across the curriculum.

Teachers also visited Cornerstone Academy, where they shared ideas with American colleagues on topics including curriculum design, student engagement and school culture.

The visit formed part of Aurora Academies Trust’s ongoing partnership with ACCEL Schools through the global Pansophic Learning network, helping staff build international links and develop new ideas to bring back into the classroom.

Insights from the trip are being used to further enhance language-learning opportunities at TGS, where technology is already embedded throughout Modern Foreign Languages teaching and staff continue to explore the use of AI tools within the classroom.

David Walker-Smith, Assistant Headteacher at The Gatwick School and Head of Modern Foreign Languages, said:

“The visit to Columbus Bilingual Academy North was a real highlight of our exchange, particularly seeing bilingual education in action and learning how language, culture and technology can be brought together to create such an engaging experience for pupils.

“While TGS is not a bilingual school, we are proudly international in our outlook and deeply committed to high-quality language learning. Experiences like this allow us to reflect on our own practice, strengthen our international partnerships and ultimately enhance the opportunities we provide to our students.”