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The International School Award is an accreditation scheme for international curriculum work open to all nursery, primary and secondary schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The scheme recognises good practice in international dimension in schools. Successful schools are accredited for three years. The accreditation process has an action planning stage, followed by compilation of a dossier of evidence. The scheme is funded primarily by the Department for Children Schools and Families. The scheme was redeveloped in 2001-02 and is since called the DCSF International School Award. More than 4000 schools have received the award in the UK and a further 5000 schools are currently part of the new 3-stage ISA framework.
THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL AWARD IN INDIA
In the year 2003 The British Council India introduced the International School Award in India as a pilot project. Through the pilot project it developed an award scheme to recognise the work of Indian schools with international links that include the UK. The scheme is based on the UK model with appropriate modifications. India was the first overseas country to pilot the International School Award.
AIMS
ISA aims to:
- Support and develop existing school partnerships between India and the UK
- Encourage curriculum links between India and the UK
- Build a network of Indian schools with international links
- Celebrate the achievements of schools involved
BENEFITS
ISA provides a valuable tool for schools to:
- Design, develop and implement international activities
- Involve teachers and students across subjects and ages in an organised way
- Enhance public relations
- Optimise opportunities for networking
- Get recognition for their international work
PARTICIPANTS
For a participating school, the requirements for the award include an international policy being written or reviewed, an international co-ordinator appointed, curriculum-based activity focusing on international work and groups involved in international activity across a range of years and a range of subjects covered. Schools get a complete academic year to execute their planned international activities and compile dossiers of evidence.
GROUP A
Five schools gained the International School Award in the Group A of the India Pilot Project. These schools compiled the dossier for the work done through the 2003-2004 academic year and were presented the Award by Mr David Miliband, Minister of School Standard, England in a ceremony at the British Council Delhi.
GROUP B
Seventeen schools participated in the year 2004-05 and submitted their dossiers in February 2005. This group benefited from the experience of the previous group.
ISA India 2005- 06
Twenty two schools were accredited with the International School Award. These schools were felicitated at an Award Ceremony in Mumbai.
ISA India 2006-07
Thirty eight schools are participating in the scheme this year. They will submit their dossiers for evaluation by the ISA Assessment Panel in March 2007. British Council will continue to support participating schools by providing advice and guidance on designing action plans and through opportunities for networking and sharing experiences.
Click here to learn more about the experiences of some of the ISA accredited schools in India
Click here to view the list of accredited schools in India.
INTERESTED
Should you be interested in knowing more about the ISA in India, please contact
All-India Co-ordinator: Kanta Vadehra
Interested in promoting internationalism in the curriculum?
Log on to the Global Gateway website --the one-stop shop for quick access to comprehensive information on how to develop an international dimension to education.
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