British Council International School Award success for Outwood Academy Bishopsgarth
Outwood Academy Bishopsgarth has been awarded Foundation level of the British Council’s prestigious International School Award in recognition of its work to bring the world into the classroom.
The International School Award celebrates the achievements of schools that do exceptional work in international education. Fostering an international dimension in the curriculum is at the heart of the British Council’s work with schools, so that young people gain the cultural understanding and skills they need for life and work in today’s world.
The school secured the award after participating in this year’s Express Yourself North East Festival of Languages and for other international work it delivers for students. All Year 7 students study a dual language course, learning French and German, with Spanish taster lessons introduced in Years 8 and 9. In September, GCSE students will embark on a trip to Strasbourg to experience life on either side of the France-Germany border. The school has also worked with Mingalaba, an organisation that delivers workshops in schools, promoting languages through football.
On hearing the news of the achievement, Sarah Creighton, Head of Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) at the school, said:
“I am delighted to have our efforts with MFL and our participation in the Festival of Languages have been recognised by the British Council, and I am already on with planning events for our students to take part in next year!”
Shannon West, Head of UK Schools for the British Council, said:
“Outwood Academy Bishopsgarth’s international work has earned the school well-deserved recognition with the British Council International School Award - Foundation Certificate. We are delighted and proud that the academy is committed to developing a whole school approach to embedding and celebrating international work. The dedication from everyone is enriching education and supporting globally aware young people and the development of key skills.
“We thank all involved in this important work; embedding an international ethos across a school can lead to International School Award accreditation, which is the highest level of the award. Schools looking to join this supportive and engaging global network should contact us at the British Council.”
The Award is now available worldwide in countries such as Greece, India and Nigeria. Over 6000 International School Awards have been presented to successful schools in the UK since the scheme began in 1999.
The International School Award encourages and supports schools to develop:
An international ethos embedded throughout the school
A whole school approach to international work
Collaborative curriculum-based work with a number of partner schools
Year-round international activity
Involvement of the wider community
