12:00pm Friday 9th May 2008
By Ian Ross
LANGUAGE teaching at Congleton High School is being given a major boost by a leading local company.
Siemens Standards Drives agreed to sponsor German language teaching at the school with a three-year sponsorship agreement.
The sponsorship is worth £5,000, and provides funding under the Youthbridge charitable initiative.
Youthbridge is part of the British-German Association, which aims to forge links between schoolchildren from both countries.
The initiative also seeks to foster bilateral communication, to offer languages for enterprise and to highlight German culture.
Funding for Youthbridge comes from corporate sponsorship, and the Siemens funding was agreed in November 2006.
As a Youthbridge school Congleton High will seek to be an ambassador for the teaching of German in the local community.
It will hold German days once a year, spread German across the curriculum and teach German history after 1945.
Youthbridge also runs travel competitions, stages awards and helps to support trips to German partner schools and organise theatre performances and talks.
Vesta Coulson from Siemens said: "The Youthbridge initiative with Congleton High School is an excellent scheme.
"It which will greatly enhance the learning experiences of many local students.
"Through Siemens Generation 21 we are keen to support innovative educational initiatives in line with our corporate social responsibilities".
There are more than 40 British Youthbridge schools.
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