TAVISTOCK College staff spent a week in Nigeria building links with the country's schools and teachers as part of the international legacy of the London 2012 Olympics.

Community sports development manager Duncan Godfrey and school sports co-ordinator Chrissie Bassett travelled to the former capital city of Lagos with other south west schools as part of International Inspiration — a British Council-funded project.

Duncan said: 'We visited seven different schools in order to gain a picture of their sports provision and see how we could work together to improve it.

'We spent most of our time at the Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba, and they gave us a big welcome with a cultural dance show. The welcome was amazing; they're really proud of what they have.

'The staff and students just wanted to learn and see what we could help them with. We taught them things like rounders because it is sustainable through facilities and equipment and can involve many people at one time.'

Students played basketball, football, handball and athletics, making the most of their limited facilities.

Duncan and Chrissie encouraged them to develop links with other local schools so everyone could take advantage of the best playing fields and handball courts.

Chrissie said: 'We learned a lot about their culture

'There was a very different relationship between teachers and students so we taught them how to interact more and how to get more information from students rather than just dictating to them.

'There's a world of difference between our GCSE and A level syllabus and theirs. What our students are expected to know is so different. They're very much games and activity-led and knowing about the rules rather than learning how the body reacts.'

Two Nigerian teachers, including the headteacher of FSTC, Yaba, will come to Tavistock College in June to continue to build on the partnership. Chrissie has set up a webpage through http://www.elanguages.org">www.elanguages.org to chart the progress of the link.

The International Inspiration project aims to provide an opportunity for teachers, children and young people to develop and share innovative approaches to PE, sport and play in the classroom and their local community. It also helps them to understand each other's cultures, experiences and international development issues.