A NEW Cross school has been given a cash boost to develop links with Nigeria following its commitment to global issues.

Deptford Green School was chosen to become twinned with Rainbow College, in Lagos, Nigeria, as part of a government and British Council education project Connecting Classrooms.

The schools will teach about the other country’s geography, music and poetry as well as celebrating diversity and learning about ways to tackle poverty and climate change.

The secondary school’s sixth-form recently introduced the globally-recognised International Baccalaureate Diploma and already has connections with St Kizito School in Kampala, in Uganda.

Secretary of State for International Development Justine Greening said: “I am very pleased that Deptford Green School in New Cross, London is taking on this excellent opportunity to link with schools in other parts of our world.

“Young people and teachers can make a fantastic contribution by sharing the best of Britain with their peers around the world and at the same time, the great thing is that they can get invaluable knowledge of what life is like in other countries.

“Connecting Classrooms will enable pupils to learn about the world around them, about the facts of poverty that face children their own age in developing countries, and how education can help eradicate poverty.

"It will also benefit teachers by enhancing their professional skills.”