Twinning:

Getting The Experts In

What is Twinning?

• A relationship between an outside organisation and a school

• Using this relationship as a basis for educational delivery

• In this case the organisation would be a law firm

About The Scheme

• Twins law firms with schools

• Uses one or two classes from Year 10

• Happens regularly

• Uses special written materials

What happens in a session?

• Each session lasts between 45 minutes to one hour

• Each session is on one particular topic, taken from the materials

• The lawyers, work in small groups with the students to facilitate discussion

• Teacher is present throughout

The benefits of an “expert”

• Raises teachers and students awareness of relevant legal and citizenship issues

• Allows specialist knowledge into the classroom which may not otherwise occur

• Helps to demystify the law and illustrate its relevance to everyday life

Establishing a scheme

• Can approach a number of local partners

3. Local law firms

4. Law centres

5. Through an Education Business Partnership

6. Law schools and Universities

7. Citizenship Foundation

Establishing a scheme

• Must have a clear idea of how the scheme will fit into the wider Citizenship

programme and the school

• Must have a clear contact at the school responsible for the scheme

• Must have clarity at the beginning about the sessions – time, date, number etc.

Final Thoughts

• “I would have changed the amount of time we had in lesson today. There was not enough time for discussion. I enjoyed Citizenship for the first time in ages.”

• “working with the Lawyers made me feel as if I understood something.”