School’s award for promoting work skills
A PRIMARY school near Ashbourne has been presented with an award for working to bring the world into the classroom.
Fitzherbert Primary School, in Fenny Bentley, has received the International School Award, which celebrates the achievements of schools that do exceptional work in international education.
The school’s international work has included partnering with schools in Germany and Finland, and is part of a curriculum set by the British Council to ensure young people gain the cultural understanding and skills they need for life and work.
This is the third time the Ashes Lane school has received the award. Head of school Annette Froggatt said: “I am absolutely thrilled and so proud.
“We are incredibly committed to introducing and embedding international education into the curriculum and our school culture.
“As a small, rural primary school in the middle of the country, we have always felt passionate about teaching our children about the wider world and different cultures, and we actively promote a culture of respect and tolerance.
“We have now achieved this award three times, being accredited for over nine years.”
Sir Ciarán Devane, chief executive of the British Council, said: “Fitzherbert has brought the world into its classrooms, earning them the British Council International School Award. Their pupils’ education is enriched with international activities that help children develop the skills they need to thrive in a globalised world.”
The award is sought-after worldwide by schools from countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Cyprus, and Pakistan.
Around 5,500 International School Awards have been presented to successful schools in the UK since the British Council scheme began in 1999.
The International School Award encourages and supports schools to develop an international ethos embedded throughout the school, a whole-school approach to international work, collaborative curriculum-based work with a number of partner schools, year-round international activity and involvement of the wider community.