The International School Award (ISA) is a prestigious accreditation scheme, managed by the British Council. The Award recognises and celebrates schools that are committed to developing international partnerships which enrich the curriculum and help young learners to become global citizens.
Connecting Classrooms is designed to enable participating schools to achieve the ISA, by providing the structure and experience needed to satisfy the criteria for application.
The ISA has been running successfully in the UK since 1999. In England, where the scheme is funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, it is known as the DCSF International School Award. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the scheme is supported by the devolved government departments for education.
All Connecting Classrooms schools in the UK are expected to register for the Foundation level ISA (as a minimum) when they are accepted onto the programme. They are also encouraged and supported to work towards the Intermediate and/or Full stages of the ISA during the course of their Connecting Classrooms partnerships
UK schools that already have ISA accreditation when they join Connecting Classrooms are encouraged to apply for repeat accreditation if it expires during their involvement in the programme.
To register for the Foundation level ISA now, complete a statement of intent, then follow the instructions on the DCSF Global Gateway ISA pages. Here, you will also find more information about the scheme, including assessment criteria.
Connecting Classrooms schools in other countries are eligible for the British Council International School Award, which applies the same rigorous standards and criteria as the scheme in the UK but is funded by the British Council and delivered in partnership with key education bodies in each country.
Contact us to find out how the scheme is run in your country.
We are currently piloting additional award schemes specifically for learners, teachers, school leaders and partnership co-ordinators in local authorities (or other co-ordinating bodies) involved in Connecting Classrooms, to recognise and reward commitment to international working.
Contact us to find out more about the British Council International Leader Award, the British Council International Teacher Award, or the British Council Global Citizen Award, and how these schemes are run in your country.
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