Writing to our pen pals in Ghana

Students from a north Norfolk school are making international links with new pen pals in Ghana.

The pen pal project at Stalham High School is aiming to help improve pupils' literacy, geography and history skills.

So far the year seven students at the school have written letters to students at Odumase School in Kumasi, and have received back replies. They are now in the processing of sending a second round of letters.

Teacher Esther Jillett, who has helped set up the project, said: 'The children have been amazed with the replies back from the students in Ghana and how good their English is. It is also helping teach the children about other cultures.'

She said they had also noticed lots of similarities such as a love of Harry Potter, hip-hop music and films.

She added that the hope now is to exchange pictures and also videos at some point. The school is also hoping to involve the Ghana pupils in their literacy festival in July, writing joint stories with the Stalham pupils.

Amy Morris, 12, who is taking part in the project, said: 'It feels like I have another friend in a different country. I was also surprised by how good they were at English.'