OKEHAMPTON College has been awarded the prestigious International School Award from the British Council in recognition of its efforts to make global citizens of its pupils.

Its application so impressed the British Council, that the organisation also named the college as one of just four ‘best practice’ secondary schools in the South West. This means the college will share their expertise with other schools.

The application for the award, spearheaded by Modern Foreign Languages lead teacher Charlotte Wates, saw pupils getting involved in schools in Bulgaria, France, Holland, Malawi, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA.

They’ve also been sharing their enthusiasm for other countries closer to home, with Year 9 pupils teaching French to children in local primary schools.

‘It really has been a whole school effort,’ said Charlotte. ‘The award shows that although we are a rural school in Devon and quite isolated, we have nevertheless got international parts to our curriculum and we exchange ideas and work with people in other countries.

‘I was very surprised to have the invitation to have a “best practice school” because we are only four schools in the South West who’ve received that. It means that we are on a register now, and other schools will come to us for advice on achieving the award.’

The children have taken part in trips and exchanges abroad, have enjoyed visits to the school from foreign teachers and collaborated with French children in a design competition for EDF, with their winning logo appearing on an international energy-saving T-shirt. They have also led workshops in local primary schools and run events to raise funds for projects abroad.

‘The award has acted as a platform to provide students with extra, unique opportunities to work with their peers abroad, enhance their own knowledge base, and develop their personal confidence alongside skills such as team working and problem-solving,’ said Charlotte.

‘We would like to say a big “thank you” to all the students who took part, and to all their parents/guardians for supporting them in such an important achievement for the whole school community!’