Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg
Approximately 2 minutes reading time.
In February 2025, colleagues from East Carolina University (ECU) and the University of Central Florida (UCF) joined Welsh partners for a week-long international learning exchange focused on the development of Community Focused Schools (CFS) in Wales. With research, policy, and practice at the heart of the visit, and cultural experiences that brought hiraeth and cynefin to life, the week highlighted one core message: we share more similarities than differences, and global collaboration is essential for addressing today’s educational challenges.
Community Focused Schools are a key part of Wales’ programme for government. They emphasise strong partnerships with families, links with communities, and collaboration with multi-agency services to ensure every learner is supported. This approach plays a central role in reducing the impact of poverty, raising achievement, and strengthening pupil and family wellbeing across Wales.
The visit opened in Cardiff, where an engaging overview of Wales’ history and culture was brilliantly brought to life by Edward Jones, Headteacher of Pencoed Comprehensive School. Introductory sessions, including a presentation from the British Council, helped set the context before the delegation met with Welsh Government policy leads to explore how national strategies underpin Community Focused Schools.
Across the week, colleagues visited five diverse schools, Ysgol Pen Rhos, Clwyd Primary School, Ysgol Clywedog, Pencoed Primary School, and Maindee Primary School. They also had presentations from Wrexham, Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, and Conwy local authorities. These opportunities offered a unique perspective on how Community Focused School approaches take shape in practice, both at school level and at a regional level.
Partnerships with Wrexham University and Swansea University added a strong research dimension to the visit, including a valuable contribution from Professor Janet Goodall on family engagement.
Throughout the visit, one powerful theme emerged: despite working in different systems, the challenges and hopes of education are shared globally.
Across Wales, North Carolina, and Florida, schools are striving to:
- build meaningful family partnerships
- engage with and serve their communities
- collaborate with wider services to reduce barriers
- respond to the effects of socio-economic disadvantage
- create equitable opportunities for all learners
Recognising these shared challenges reinforced the value of international collaboration, and the belief that educational systems grow stronger when they learn from one another.
As Welsh Government guidance makes clear, Community Focused Schools aim to bring families, schools, and services together so every learner can thrive. This visit demonstrated that when educators work together across national borders, we move closer to realising that vision for all children.
Dr Suzanne Sarjeant
Pencoed Primary School