PRIMARY schools in Avening and Tetbury have forged links with schools in Kenya.

During the Spring term ten teachers from across Gloucestershire visited the country as part of the Share to Learn programme which aims to link UK and African schools and is funded by the British Council.

Diana Boulton, headteacher of Avening Primary School, was among the group and visited Elimambo School in the Thika area, north of Nairobi.

Helen Kearns who teaches at St Mary's Primary School, Tetbury, was also on the trip and stayed at a school in Gatanga.

Diana, whose own school is already linked with Elimambo, said she waqs bowled over by the warmth of welcome she received.

"The children were so excited to have a teacher from this country," she said. "For many I was the first white woman they had ever seen and I had the most amazing reception.

"The school had no water, no electricity and the wooden classrooms had been built by parents about six years ago. But, astonishingly, the children learn three languages and I was able to teach them in English. They were so keen to learn and a pleasure to teach."

The Share to Learn project gives support and guidance for schools at either end of the link and aims to supply computers to many of the Kenyan schools so that communications can be enhanced.

This type of direct school-to-school linking provides an immediacy and accuracy of information and also offers an interest and excitment for students that helps them to learn.

There are now about 100 active links between the UK and Kenya, providing benefits to all the schools involved in the project.

In June both schools will host a return visit by teachers from the Kenyan schools through the Share to Learn programme.