British Council International School Award success for Impington Village College

Impington Village College, located on the outskirts of Cambridge, has been awarded Foundation level for the British Council’s prestigious International School Award in recognition of its work to bring the world into the classroom.

The International School Award celebrates the achievements of schools that do exceptional work in international education. 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 for life and work in today’s world.

Victoria Hearn, Principal, Impington Village College, said: “This award reflects the hard work and dedication of all of our staff and students and it highlights the incredible international culture that plays such an important role within our college. We always seek to nurture and expand our students’ knowledge and understanding of the world and their place within it; by encouraging international-mindedness in all of our students we are promoting a sense of global responsibility within. We focus on these behaviours not only in the college, but in the context of the wider community too. I’m incredibly proud that our college continues to be recognised for international excellence and thankful to everyone who has helped to make this happen.”

Examples of the college’s international work, which have been recognised by the British Council, include: participation in the International Exchanges for Schools programme with Adea Model Secondary School in Bishoftu, Ethiopia; developing an international mindset within students through providing an inclusive environment that celebrates difference and diversity; and also, as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, through promoting a commitment among students to help all members of the college community learn to respect themselves, others and the world around them, as part of the IB learner profile.

John Rolfe MBE, Schools Outreach Manager at the British Council, said: “We are delighted and proud that Impington Village College is committed to developing a whole college approach to embedding and celebrating international work. The college is dedicated to enriching their student’s education and supporting globally aware young people in their key skills development.”

The British Council assesses schools all over the world for the International School Award. Around 6,000 International School Awards have been presented to successful schools in the UK since the scheme began in 1999.