3 November 2014
International Link2Learn success for Lancashire School
LSA Technology and Performing Arts College School in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire has won a valuable cash prize in recognition of its outstanding international work to bring the world into the classroom.
The national HSBC/British Council Link2Learn competition is open to any school and international links co-ordinator involved in the British Council International School Award (www.britishcouncil.org/schoolsonline) that are doing outstanding work in international education through their links with partner schools overseas. 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 to live and work as global citizens.
LSA’s international work includes two Connecting Classrooms whole school projects with Rawdah High School in Beirut, Lebanon and B/Vishaka Girls High School in Badulla, Sri Lanka; many online projects including eTwinning such as QR-U? and Deutsch Plus; a German Exchange; Skype in the Classroom; and many partnership visits through the former Comenius programme now known as Erasmus+.
John Rolfe from the British Council, said: “Many congratulations on your well deserved success in the 2014 Link2Learn competition. Your innovative and creative international work is not only giving young people a better understanding of the world around them, but it’s really making a difference to their future prospects too. Employers are telling us that international skills are just as important as exam results – so everything you are doing is vital preparation for life in a global society and work in a global economy. Your great success deserves celebrating along with outstanding commitment to a range of inclusive, fantastic and enriching international work. We are very grateful to you and to HSBC for such wonderful support’’
On hearing the news that LSA Technology and Performing Arts College had been successful in the Link2Learn competition, Sandra Underwood, School Link Coordinator said: “We are thrilled to hear that our school was chosen for this prestigious award. We highlight many international themes in our curriculum and work closely with our partner schools. Our school community is committed to the international ethos for global learning and our students embrace the opportunities that are given to them to work with others abroad.”
Philip Wood, Head Teacher at LSA added that “We are delighted to have been selected for the Link2Learn award and to be recognised for our school’s commitment to providing a high quality international dimension to our curriculum.”
2014 has seen nearly 140 Link2Learn entries from across the UK. This includes a wide range of schools and international co-ordinators from a variety of different backgrounds and areas across the UK.
The British Council International School Award is now available worldwide in countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Lebanon, Cyprus and Pakistan as part of the British Council’s Connecting Classrooms programme. Around 4000 International School Awards have been presented to successful schools in the UK since the scheme began in 1999.
The British Council International School Award encourages and supports schools to develop:
- An international ethos embedded throughout the school
- A majority of pupils within the school impacted by and involved in international work
- Collaborative curriculum-based work with a number of partner schools
- Curriculum-based work across a range of subjects
- Year-round international activity
- Involvement of the wider community
The British Council Schools Online website is a ‘one stop shop’ to help schools find international opportunities, including the International School Award. Any school can find out how to apply by visiting http://schoolsonline.britishcouncil.org .
To interview the school or for images, please contact:
Sandra. Underwood@lythamhigh.lancs.sch.uk
For more information about the HSBC/British Council Link2Learn Awards, please contact Mark Moulding in the British Council Press Office on 020 7389 4889 or mark.moulding@britishcouncil.org
Notes to Editors:
- The British Council creates international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries and builds trust between them worldwide. We are a Royal Charter charity, established as the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. Our 7000 staff in over 100 countries work with thousands of professionals and policy makers and millions of young people every year through English, arts, education and society programmes. We earn over 75% of our annual turnover of £739 million from services which customers pay for, education and development contracts we bid for and from partnerships. A UK Government grant provides the remaining 25%. We match every £1 of core public funding with over £3 earned in pursuit of our charitable purpose. For more information, please visit: www.britishcouncil.org. You can also keep in touch with the British Council through http://twitter.com/britishcouncil and http://blog.britishcouncil.org/.
- The British Council International School Award was started in 1999 to recognise the schools leading the way in instilling and developing a global dimension into the learning experience of all children and young people. It is managed by the British Council.
