AN APPERLEY Bridge school has been given a prestigious British Council award in recognition of its work to bring the world into the classroom.

Woodhouse Grove School has International links with ten schools in countries including China, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Australia. The links include school trips, individual pupil and teacher exchanges and web-based projects.

A member of teaching staff spent six months at Newington College in Sydney, Australia, at the beginning of 2015, and this summer Year 10 pupil Molly Leslie spent four weeks at Westminster School in Adelaide.

Woodhouse Grove annually hosts pupils from Methodist College, Kowloon, Hong Kong, and a group of pupils visited Wuxi United International School in China in 2014. This week, nine pupils from Xiaoshi High School in Ningbo, China, are being hosted by the Apperley Bridge school.

Peter Lambert, modern languages teacher and international co-ordinator, said: "We are delighted Woodhouse Grove has received this award, which honours the efforts of many people over a number of years, who have striven to widen the horizons of our young people.

"Now, our students can truly begin to have a view beyond the confines of the classroom, to develop their own sense of globalism and make their contribution to making the world a better and safer place. We all knew we were an international school, but now we have the proof and we look forward to telling everyone about it."

British Council chief executive, Sir Ciarán Devane, praised the school's fantastic work, adding: "The International School Award is a great chance for schools to demonstrate the important work they’re doing to bring the world into their classrooms.

"Adding an international dimension to children’s education ensures they are truly global citizens and helps prepare them for successful future careers in an increasingly global economy."

International Development Secretary, Justine Greening, said: "Young people must be at the heart of our work to create a safer and more prosperous world for everyone, and we need to ensure their voices are heard if we are to win the fight against global poverty."

She added: "The International School Award is a great way of highlighting how young people have the potential to change things for the better. I’m sure schools getting involved will be broadening the horizons of their students, which will not only help their careers but benefit their wider lives in the future."

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