International School Award Success!

Connaught School for Girls in Leytonstone has been awarded the prestigious International School Award in recognition of bringing the wider world into the schoolroom.

On the 16th October 2009 Ms Anne Ball attended a high-profile ceremony in London that recognises Connaught's outstanding work. Ms Ball was presented with the Award by broadcaster and journalist George Alagiah.

On receiving the Award, Ms Ball commented, “I was delighted to collect the British Council International School Award on behalf of everyone at Connaught. This is an award which lasts for three years and is in recognition of all our international links and the international work that takes place in so many areas of the curriculum and school life. The presentation was made by broadcaster George Alagiah who then made a fascinating speech on the theme of the power of opportunity. He referred to the opportunities he had at school in Ghana and then in England which mean that, for him, home is Britain but his home from home will always be Sri Lanka. It was a wonderful day celebrating the tenth anniversary of the inception of the International School Award and I look forward to seeing Connaught receive the award again in three years’ time”.

On being notified that Connaught had received the award Headteacher Ann Betts said; “this award recognises the hard work and dedication that students and staff have shown in our project work with schools in France, Ghana, Portugal, Spain and Turkey and that there is a rich international flavour across our curriculum”.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the DCSF International School Award seeks to celebrate, develop, recognise and accredit outstanding practice in the international dimensions of teaching and learning. 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 to live and work as global citizens.

2009 has seen 700 schools accredited in the 75th anniversary year of the British Council. This is a record number of recipients and includes a wide range of schools from a variety of different backgrounds from across the UK.

The Award is now made available worldwide in countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Lebanon, Cyprus and Pakistan. Around 2000 International School Awards have been presented to successful schools in the UK since the scheme began in 1999.

The ISA encourages and supports schools to develop the following:

• An international ethos embedded throughout the school
• A majority of pupils within the school impacted by and involved in international work
• Collaborative curriculum-based work with a number of partner schools
• Curriculum-based work across a range of subjects
• Year round international activity
• Involvement of the wider community
• Collaborative curriculum-based international work with partner schools

John Rolfe, Manager, DCSF International School Award at the British Council says “Many congratulations and many thanks on your well-deserved success in being accredited with the Award. The rich range of work you are doing in the school and across your larger community to support and encourage global citizens with a greater understanding of the world around them is truly fantastic. The international dimensions of teaching and learning have been at the heart of the work of the British Council for 75 years and to receive the Award in its 10th anniversary year is a special cause for celebration”.