British Council International School Award success for Outwood Primary Academy Bell Lane
Outwood Primary Academy Bell Lane in Pontefract has been awarded the British Council’s prestigious International School Award in recognition of its work to bring the world into the classroom.
The award celebrates the achievements of schools that do exceptional work in global education. Bringing an international dimension into 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 2026 award ceremony took place in Westminster on Monday, 2 February and was attended by Members of Parliament and representatives from schools around the UK.
Outwood Primary Academy Bell Lane is the designated Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) Centre of Excellence for the Outwood family of schools, meaning the school undertakes international activities above the normal curriculum and also supports other schools within the Trust with their MFL teaching and curriculum offer.
The school also has three international partner schools, based in France, Germany and Norway, which allows students to engage via letters, videos and video calls. More locally, a Pen Friend programme set up with children at Outwood Primary Academy Green Hill in Eastmoor means children can exchange letters in a variety of community languages, including Arabic, Mandarin and Yoruba.
Reflecting on the awards ceremony, Claire Groves, a teacher at the school, said:
“We are delighted to receive the British Council International School Award. This accolade belongs to our entire community: teachers, students, and parents who have embraced the importance of bringing the world into our classrooms. We look forward to continuing to champion international education both within our academy and across the Outwood family of schools.”
Scott McDonald, Chief Executive of the British Council, added:
“The school has earned this prestigious award through its inspirational international work and links with schools abroad.
“The International School Award is a chance for schools to be recognised for their important work bringing the world into their classrooms. The desire to build on their international work shines through and it is with utmost pride that we celebrate their achievements.
“By embedding an international dimension in children’s education, these schools are preparing their students for successful lives in the UK or further afield, empowering them to be global citizens, and are creating vital opportunities in an increasingly global economy.”
Over 6,000 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 several partner schools
Year-round international activity
Involvement of the wider community
