International School Award (ISA)

CONGRATULATIONS!!

ALL PLYMOUTH SCHOOLS NOW HAVE A LEVEL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL AWARD

ISA is an accreditation scheme for international work within the curriculum. It is open to all schools within the UK and the award recognises good practice in international work. Hence, ISA is designed for schools who demonstrate an international ethos throughout the school.

This should be included in the school development plan and includes substantial, collaborative international based activities.

International School Award has 3 levels: Foundation, Intermediate, Full International School Award.

Foundation: Introducing Internationalism

This category is designed for schools just embarking on internationalism, beginning to integrate international activities into the curriculum and looking for partner schools overseas. All schools are expected to achieve this level by 2010. You can apply for this level at anytime. To achieve this level you need to:

• State the international aims for the school, signed by your Headteacher.
• Complete a short international audit and name the person who undertook the audit.
• It is not necessary to provide details of activities in school but you can include 3 if you would like to and the British Council do like to hear about different activities.
• Have begun to take steps to identify potential partner schools in other countries or will do so in the near future.

Intermediate: Developing Internationalism

This category is designed for schools that have more substantial curriculum- based international activities and a link with a school overseas. This link will be planning to work towards collaborative work. You can apply for this level at anytime. To achieve this level you need to:

• Have a draft policy setting out international aims
• Produce the results of an international audit
• Have an international coordinator appointed with a draft job description
• Complete at least 3 curriculum based activities with an international dimension involving 50% of children across the school in the past 12 months. (5 activities are recommended).
• Have a link with at least one partner school in another country and beginning to make progress towards some collaborative work with them.

Full International School Award: Demonstrating an International Ethos

To apply for this level you must submit a school action plan for the coming 12 months describing planned activities to develop internationalism within the curriculum. When this action plan is approved you must collect evidence in one A4 ring binder to submit by the end of that academic year. You are able to apply for Intermediate level and submit your action plan for approval simultaneously. Schools successful in this category will be invited to a national award presentation. To achieve this award you need to:

• Have an established international policy within the school development plan
• Produce the results of an international audit
• Have an international coordinator in place with a job description
• Complete 7 international activities in one academic year. These activities should be cross curricular, curriculum based, involve collaborate work with international partner schools and involve most curricular subjects and pupils. Please note after school and lunch clubs are not taken into account.
• Have a strong partnership with one or more schools in another country involved in collaborative work

ISA 2010

Seven Plymouth schools gain the full Award! The Award lasts for three years - many Plymouth schools have now held the Award for at least four years but particular congratulations go to Hele's School who have now held the Award for 7 years and continue to be involved in exemplary international work at the school.

Hele's School (3rd time)
Keyham Barton Catholic School (1st time)
Mayflower Primary School (1st time)
Montpelier Primary School (2nd time)
St. Andrew's Primary School (2nd time)
Stoke Damerel Community College (2nd time)
Tor Bridge High (2nd time)

Many other schools were accredited with the foundation or intermediate level of the Award.

For the International Award Ceremony news article - click here

ISA 2009

Seven Plymouth schools gained the Award for the first time and worked very hard throughout the year to put together a portfolio illustrating 7 major international activities in their schools. These schools were:

Devonport High School for Boys
Laira Green Primary School
Leigham Primary School
Old Priory Junior School
Salisbury Road Primary School
St Paul’s RC Primary School
Woodford Infants School

For ten of the schools, it was their second time of gaining the Award so well done to them for embracing the international agenda for at least four years:

Devonport High School for Girls
Ernesettle Community School
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School
Hooe Primary School
Hyde Park Junior School
Longcause Special School
Marlborough Primary School
Oreston Community Primary School
Plymouth High School for Girls
Stuart Road Primary School

Details for how to apply for ISA 2011 will be available on the Global Gateway website soon www.globalgateway.org.uk/isa

Congratulations to all Schools that have been accredited with the DCSF ISA...SEE RESULTS

For the pictures from the ISA Ceremony 2009...CLICK HERE (the password is ISA09)

Plymouth ISA Ceremony 2010 ... CLICK HERE

For further information, please contact Jill Bailey at jill.bailey@plymouth.gov.uk (Tel. 01752 306392)