International Award
After a review of our Cultural Diversity statement our Governing body felt that we had worked hard, as a school, to improve provision in this area of the curriculum. This has been externally verified as the school has recently been awarded (for the third time) the International School Award by the British Council. This award shows the school has worked hard to embed International education within our school’s culture.
Why international education?
International education enriches teaching and learning. It introduces educators to new practices and perspectives, furthering their professional development and raising teaching standards. It also gives young people a window into different cultures and countries, helping them develop as responsible global citizens and preparing them for life and work in a global society.
This is something we have taken seriously over the last few years and have created a culture in school of diversity, tolerance and respect with our children.
3rd International Award
In September 2022, we were awarded the British Council’s prestigious International School Award in recognition of our work to bring the world into the classroom.
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.
Bolsover Infant and Nursery School were first awarded the prestigious International award in 2015, but had been working towards this since 2012, they were then reassessed in 2018 and more recently in 2022. The schools international work includes working with schools from across the global, as well as embedding international work through the work of the school and the curriculum. The school originally twinned with a school in India and more recently were matched with a school in Mexico. The more recent twining was facilitated by the global industry leader of sustainable packaging Smurfit Kappa, who also work with both school, in long term partnerships to improve schools, sustainability education and its delivery in school.
Smurfit Kappa have helped the school to deliver work around Sustainability, as well as Mental Health of their staff and our community and have supported a range of community work. The school has worked hard on their Environmental Curriculum, within the area of Climate Change, Sustainability and transitional engineering, with their Headteacher being invited to join a Not for profit organization ‘eduCCate Global’ and UNITAR at COP25 (funded by Smurfit Kappa). They have worked with schools up and down the country to secure this work, alongside eduCCate Gobal and the headteacher has featured in a range of media, such as Radio 2, NEU Magazine and Headteacher Update sharing the schools work.
The school has been supported on its International journey by a number of partners including Smurfit Kappa, eduCCate Global, Tesco (Bags of Help funding) and Morrisons (Community Champion Support). All staff in school also completed UNITAR / UN CC:Learn Climate Change courses alongside and in partnership with eduCCate Global, to became certificated Climate Change teachers. During this time the school was also collaborating with eduCCate Global in the development of the eduCCate Global Awards and have helped pave the way for The Climate Education College which is now focussing on targeting teachers and school staff specific climate education training courses.
Scott McDonald, Chief Executive of the British Council, said: ‘The school has earned this prestigious award through its inspirational international work and links with schools abroad.
The International School Award is a chance for schools to be recognised for their important work bringing the world into their classrooms. This is especially commendable when schools have been deeply affected by the global pandemic. The desire to build on their international work shines through and it is with upmost pride that we celebrate their achievements.
By embedding an international dimension in children’s education, these schools are preparing their students for successful lives in the UK or further afield, empowering them to be global citizens, and are creating vital opportunities in an increasingly global economy.’
What did this mean for the children that attend our school?
For the children in school it means that they access a range of learning that teaches them about global issues.
These global themes cover such areas as:
• conflict and peace
• sustainable living
• rights and responsibilities
• fairness and equality
• identity and belonging.
For our children it means developing:
- an increased knowledge, awareness and tolerance about other countries, cultures and languages,
- confidence in communicating with people from different backgrounds,
- more skills to successfully live and work in a global and mobile society,
- literacy skills when writing stories and letters for specifics audiences
- students begin to develop confidence
- A better understanding of what being a global citizen means.
If you would like further information about this or have questions about provision in our school please address these with someone at the school or email headteacher@bolsover-inf.derbyshire.sch.uk
