British Council International School Award success for Ballyclare High School

By Ballyclare High School on 10 October, 2018

 

 Ballyclare High School has been awarded the British Council’s prestigious International School Award in recognition of its work to bring the world into the classroom. Ballyclare High was the first school in Northern Ireland to ever have achieved this award and is again breaking records by receiving this recognition for its’ international work for an unprecedented 7th time.

The International School Award celebrates the achievements of schools that do exceptional work in international education. 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 for life work in today’s world.

Ballyclare High’s international work includes a range of activities and overseas partnerships which enable our students to enhance mutual understanding of other cultures and to create lifelong friendships. Annual exchange trips to Germany and France, alongside an array of international sporting and cultural projects afford our students invaluable experiences worldwide.

On hearing the news that Ballyclare High had received the award, Mr J Nelson Teacher in Charge of the International Dimension is at the heart of both our teaching and wide extra-curricular programme. Pupils and staff alike work hard to develop our own opportunities, as well as providing others in our local community with international links. I am extremely proud to see our school win this award on yet another occasion, thus highlighting our commitment to internationalism.

Sir Ciarán Devane, CEO of the British Council, said: ‘The school’s fantastic international work has rightfully earned it this prestigious award. The International School Award is a great chance for schools to demonstrate the important work they’re doing to bring the world into their classrooms. Embedding an international dimension in children’s education ensures that they are truly global citizens and helps prepare them for successful lives and careers in an increasingly global economy.’

The award is now available worldwide in countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Lebanon, Cyprus, and Pakistan. Around 5,500 International School Awards have been presented to successful schools in the UK since the scheme began in 1999.

The International School Award encourages and supports schools to develop: