Internationa

l School Award

• recognises, celebrates, develops and encourages successful practice in curriculum-based international work in schools

• congratulates successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens and the international dimensions in teaching and learning

• all inclusive; covers 3 - 18 age range• open to all schools in the UK (state and

private)• creates a ‘real’ audience for exciting,

stimulating, relevant collaboration

International School Award

FULL ISA - THE AWARD

Accreditation for three years• Trophy, certificate and use of logo on school

website, stationery and promotional material• Acknowledgement from peer group of

educators, British Council and DCSF of high standards of international work in your school

• National awards presentation; networking opportunities

• ISA accredited schools are ‘champion ambassadors’ for the international dimension in education

International School Award

BENEFITS

• Framework for developing international work, increased motivation, an enriched curriculum, a whole school ethos

• Portfolio of evidence of international work • PR-local / national media coverage• Sense of recognition and development of staff and

pupils as ‘global citizens’• ISA schools share a common vision in helping to better

understand and protect the planet and our inter-dependencies

• Encourage cultural understanding, global citizenship and mutually empowering relationships

• Examine values and attitudes and develop skills to combat prejudice and promote self esteem

• Provide a focus for learning; ‘there are no passengers on planet earth; we are all crew’

International School Award

SELECTION CRITERIA

• International policy and an international co-ordinator / committee • Curriculum based activity – do all members of the school community

know what they can do to make a difference? • Range of year groups and subject areas involved in international

activities• year round activity• Evaluation of impact (keep it light touch)• Collaborative work with partners in other countries (

www.globalgateway.org) • Use a range of international opportunities and programmes (eg

TIPD, Comenius, World Links, IPH)

International School Award

SOME STATISTICS…

• over 1200 schools accredited since 1999

• 585 schools accredited in 2008• over 5000 schools involved in the programme

• 50 schools across the UK accredited three times

• Target: all schools involved in international activity by 2012

International School Award

‘One can’t truly educate young people in thiscountry without the international dimensionbeing a very significant and real part of theirlearning’

Charles Clarke

‘The International School Award is ‘a majorprize for excellence in this field’

DfES International strategy ‘Putting the World into World – Class Education’

www.globalgateway.org

International School Award

Diversity festivals / language awareness projects / foreign languages taught in the school / get a partner school in Europe or elsewhere / cultural heritage at your

school / email work / study international meals / nutrition Compare and contrast your home town / schools infrastructure / set up an international

business / international work experience / international newsletters Comenius projects / teacher exchanges / headteacher placements

Research overseas tourism, architecture, trade and industry, communications, artStudy international poetry / drama / music /a maths project / overseas holiday

destinations / flora and fauna / animals around the world Design a cookbook, exchange recipes / what are international healthy foods / water /

world issues / EU parliament UN Rights of the Child / international display boards / customs from around the world /

2008 Olympics in Beijing / 60th anniversary of Indian independence in 2007 / 50th anniversary of Ghanaian independence / 2012 Sports in UK / international sports / folk stories and songs in assemblies / themed international day / geography field trips / battlefield sites / learn the language and get a link school for the ski trip /

materials and clothes from around the world

REMEMBER TO SHOW HOW THEY ARE LINKED TO THE CURRICULUM

www.wearewhatwedo.org … inspiring young people to use their everyday actions to change the world

International School Award

PUT THE WORLD IN YOUR CLASSFour interconnected factors of

Travel (cheap flights, student and teacher exchanges) Technology (IT, email, internet, mobile phones, Facebook)

Society and Politics (EU expansion, Every Child Matters, sustainable schools, community cohesion)

Demographics (aging population, migrant workers, ‘the world is getting smaller’)

These present challenges and opportunities to us all; the need to produce young people equipped for this world-internationally minded, skilled in

other languages and comfortable with difference and working with people from different backgrounds

The International School Award supports and develops these with raising awareness; collaboration skills and bringing other countries alive

OFSTED- THE ISA ‘IS A SIGNIFICANT FEATURE OF THE SCHOOL’ IN THE SEF

International School Award

WHAT IS AVAILABLE?

The International School Award is now available withthree different categories, allowing schools to buildtowards the Award. The three categoriesare as follows:

• Foundation – for schools beginning international work.

• Intermediate – for schools that are beginning to work with an international partner school

• Full International School Award – for schools that have developed an integrated international ethos.

International School Award

FOUNDATION: INTRODUCING INTERNATIONALISM

What you should be doing:• An international audit of your current international activities• Writing a basic international policy• Assigning an International Coordinator/Committee

The evidence you have to provide us with:• online submission of letter of intent to develop the international

dimension across the school / school development plan • Details of a few completed/started international activities (optional)

You submit this evidence via our online form (www.globalgateway.org/isa)

International School Award

INTERMEDIATE: DEVELOPING INTERNATIONALISM

What you should be doing:• Up-to-date international audit• Finalising your International Policy – thinking about aligning it with your

School Development Plan• Finalising the International Coordinator/Committee job description

The evidence you have to provide us with:• Details of at least one international partner school you collaborate with• Online details of three completed/started curricular activities involving

approximately 50% of pupils from across the school

You submit this evidence via our online form (www.globalgateway.org/isa)

International School Award

FULL INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL AWARD

What you should have in place:• A finalised international policy within the school

development plan • A finalised job description for your international

coordinator/committee • At least 7 curricular international activities spread

over one academic year• At least 75% of pupils across the school involved• A partnership with one or more schools in another

country involved in collaborative work

International School Award

HOW TO APPLY

• Do an audit of international activities

• Choose which category you wish to apply for

• Download/complete the relevant guidance and application forms at www.globalgateway.org/isa

• Complete and send to the British Council

• No deadlines for Foundation/Intermediate stages• Online applications for 2009 Full ISA now open

• Contact us for any help/advice/clarification

International School Award

HOW TO DO AN AUDIT OF INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES

This will help you to identify where your school is in termsof international work, and allows you to better choosewhich category to apply for.

• Use the guidance when completing the audit

• Try to involve the whole school in the process to get the most accurate picture of the range of activity

You can now download guidance and application formsFrom www.globalgateway.org/isa

International School Award

HOW TO CHOOSE AN INTERNATIONAL COORDINATOR/COMMITTEE

The international co-ordinator can be the headteacher or a memberof staff in your school. Some tasks might involve:

• To have overall responsibility for applying for the International School Award and act as a point of contact

• To facilitate good internal and external communication (parents, governors, local community) about international activities and share best practice

• To evaluate the impact of international activities

• To aim to maximise the school’s involvement in international learning opportunities

• To help colleagues develop the use of international themes for cross-phase transition and cross-curricular projects.

International School Award

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE?Go to www.globalgateway.org/isa for all the

information you need to do an audit and apply for the Award

You can also find samples of the following:

• International coordinator/committee job descriptions

• Case studies/examples of activities/benefits/links to resources

• School international policies

International School Award

OVERSEAS PILOTS…• customised schemes with local assessors

• supports UK/overseas school linking work

• network of engaged schools around the globe

• 89 schools in India accredited by Summer ‘08

• first five schools accredited with the Award in Sri Lanka in 2006

• now operates in Egypt, Lebanon, Cyprus, Pakistan and Jordan

International School Award

‘embed the ethos of global activities into school life; develop links’

‘giving recognition to the importance of developing internationalism and impetus for future development’

‘to celebrate the different cultures and backgrounds of our school community’

‘to widen our pupils understanding of the world and the opportunities for them to contribute towards a better, safer planet-to respect themselves and others’

‘learning extended and greater awareness amongst governors and parents’

‘the staff work together and enjoy the inclusion and variety of this work’

‘it enables us to audit our existing activities and plan for development’

‘one of the best things I’ve been involved in-inspiration from international colleagues’

‘motivation of pupils towards MFL learning’

‘commitment to develop international citizens; relationships with global neighbours’

‘all schools should be doing this – a brilliant idea’

International School Award

John Rolfe

International School Award

T 020 7389 4419E john.rolfe@britishcouncil.orgM 07817 365805

www.globalgateway.org/isa