Brynteg UK - Burshtyn Ukraine School Partnership Partneriaeth Ysgolion
Brynteg School is part of an exciting new UK/Ukraine school partnership, run by the British Council education department.
February 2026:
Brynteg School Marks Fourth Anniversary of Ukraine Invasion Through Powerful International Partnership
On 24 February 2026, the fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Vaughn Gibson, Literacy Lead at Brynteg School in Bridgend, was featured in national and regional news coverage highlighting a remarkable international school partnership.
The story, focused on Brynteg’s involvement in a meaningful UK-Ukraine collaboration designed to foster empathy, cultural understanding and global awareness among young people.
A Growing UK-Ukraine School Partnership
Brynteg School is one of 130 schools participating in a British Council initiative that connects schools in the UK with counterparts in Ukraine. Through the programme, Brynteg has formed a partnership with Burshtyn-Lyceum in southwest Ukraine.
The initiative creates opportunities for pupils to work together on shared projects, exchange ideas and learn about one another’s cultures, experiences and perspectives, particularly in the context of ongoing global events.
Building Empathy Through Storytelling
As part of the collaboration, Vaughn Gibson led a creative literacy project using the wordless picture book The Journey by Aaron Becker.
The absence of text in the book encouraged pupils to interpret the narrative through discussion, imagination and shared reflection. Year 7 pupils at Brynteg created a Ukrainian character named Oksana, carefully considering her thoughts, feelings and experiences. Meanwhile, their partner pupils at Burshtyn-Lyceum developed a Welsh character, creating a powerful mirrored exchange of perspectives.
The project was designed not only to strengthen literacy skills, but also to nurture empathy. By stepping into the lives of fictional characters shaped by real-world contexts, pupils were encouraged to think deeply about displacement, resilience and belonging.
A Meaningful Cultural Exchange
The partnership has extended well beyond the classroom. During one online session, Brynteg decorated a classroom in blue and yellow, the national colours of Ukraine. Gibson shared how a Ukrainian pupil attending Brynteg “lit up” when they saw the display, a simple but powerful gesture of solidarity and recognition.
Gibson also travelled to Poland to meet with Ukrainian teachers displaced by the conflict. He brought a suitcase filled with gifts, including a Welsh flag and traditional Welsh dragons, to present to their Ukrainian counterparts. The exchange symbolised friendship, respect and shared identity between the two school communities.
Looking Beyond Immediate Surroundings
Speaking about the programme, Gibson emphasised its wider educational purpose. He explained that initiatives like this help pupils “look beyond their immediate surroundings” and develop a deeper understanding of global issues and different cultures.
At a time when international events can feel distant or abstract to young people, Brynteg School’s partnership with Burshtyn-Lyceum demonstrates the power of education to connect communities, build empathy and foster meaningful global citizenship.
Four years on from the invasion, this collaboration stands as a testament to resilience, solidarity and the enduring importance of shared learning.
News Articles:
Brynteg pupils forge friendships with Ukrainian classmates.
December 2025:
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Exciting news! We have received a letter from the UK Prime Minister, recognising UK schools involved in the partnership programme for their morale-boosting role. |
November 2025:
The pupils of 7R took part in their second online call with our Ukrainian partners in Burshtyn Lyceum school yesterday. Pupils had developed the opening stages of their imaginative story based on the Aaron Becker's wordless book 'Journey' and shared them in a live storytelling session on the call. Burshtyn's pupils also shared their interpretation, as well as telling us about their celebration of 'St Nicolas Day' on December 6th. Our pupils then had great fun answering quiz questions as their special bond with the Burshtyn pupils continues to grow.
A special mention goes to Bobi H, Mofe O, Annabel J and Amelia L for narrating their stories on the call. They spoke beautifully. Mofe and Bobi also explained a little about what Christmas means to us. We also invited Sofiia H from year 8 to open the call with a greeting in her native Ukrainian language. Watch this space for the next steps in this wonderful partnership.
November 2025:
Here are 7R working on their story journeys ahead of our call with our friends in Burshtyn on Monday 24th November 2025.
November 2025:
Brynteg year 7 pupils were busy on 11th November, developing their creative stories for the project they are working on with our pupils in Burshtyn, Ukraine, our partner school. Pupils are developing their own imaginative versions of the wordless book' Journey' by Aaron Becker.
Their interpretations centre around the main character, a Ukrainian girl who they have named Oksana. The pupils in Burshtyn are creating similar stories and their main character is a Welsh girl, whose name we eagerly await. Soon we will be joining our Ukrainian friends live online to swap and tell our stories. This is a wonderful journey for our pupils, and also a valuable life experience, as sometimes the pupils in Burshtyn have to revert to online learning from home as their town can come under heavy shelling as the Russia/Ukraine war continues around them. Watch this space for further updates on our journey together.
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October 2025: As part of the British Council's UK/Ukraine schools partnership, 7R had their first online call with the pupils of Burshtyn school from the Ivano- Frankivsk region of western Ukraine. It was such an exciting moment to be communicating live with children from all the way across Europe, who are going such a difficult time with the ongoing situation with Russia. |
Burshtyn pupils wore the welsh colours of red and white, while Brynteg pupils wore the Ukrainian colours of yellow and blue. Pupils had already exchanged autobiographical posters via their teachers, and so in the call they asked each other specific questions and learnt each other's names. The next call is due in a few weeks time and will involve both sets of pupils exploring a story together. Watch this space for details of our continued journey together.
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Brynteg School is part of an exciting new UK/Ukraine school partnership, run by the British Council education department. Mr Gibson (Literacy Lead), along with some of our year 7 pupils will be publishing updates on this exciting project.
Check back soon for updates!
September 2025: Brynteg School is part of an exciting new UK/Ukraine school partnership, run by the British Council education department. Mr Gibson (Literacy Lead), along with some of our year 7 pupils will be publishing updates on this exciting project. Check for updates!