Record number of schools win International School Award

This celebration of the best in international activity was attended by representatives from schools across the UK, and the successful winners were presented their awards by broadcaster and journalist George Alagiah.

The event also saw the presentation of the Link 2 Learn awards, supported by the HSBC Global Education Trust. Seven schools and one local authority received cheques of up to £5000 for their work in building international partnerships.

Martin Davidson, Chief Executive of the British Council, said: 'We congratulate and thank all the schools for their commitment to the International School Award.  We believe that international links bring a vitally important dimension to the education of our young people ensuring that they build the skills and understanding to become global citizens ready and able to take their place in the world. I am delighted that so many schools, local authorities and individual teachers agree with us.'

 The International School Award (www.globalgateway.org/isa) was started in 1999 to recognise the schools leading the way instilling a global dimension into the learning experience of all children and young people.  It is funded by the DCSF and managed by the British Council.

A record 586 schools, a rise of a third from the previous year, were accredited in 2008, and the Award is also operating in India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Lebanon, Cyprus and Pakistan. Around 1200 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
• Provides ideas for developing collaborative curriculum-based international work with partner schools

Jim Knight, Minister Of State (Schools and Learners) said: 'Our schools play a vital role in helping our children to appreciate their role in our world society and to prepare them for work in a global economy. Global understanding also leads to a better appreciation of their own culture and community locally. All of the winners today have been exemplary in this field and truly earned an International School Award.'

For more information please contact Paul Melhuish at the British Council Press Office on 0207 389 4871 or e-mail paul.melhuish@britishcouncil.org. 

Notes to Editors

The British Council

The British Council is the UK's international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations.

We work in 110 countries worldwide to build engagement and trust for the UK through the exchange of knowledge and ideas between people.

We work in the arts, education, science, sport and governance and last year we reached over 128 million people.

We are a non-political organisation which operates at arm’s length from government.

Our total turnover in 2007/8 was £565 million, of which our grant-in-aid from the British government was £197 million.

The HSBC/British Council Link2Learn Awards recognize excellence in international school partnerships with grants to winning schools, international co-coordinators and local authorities.