Appleby school gains international recognition for its efforts

by Karen Morley

Last updated 13:40, Friday, 24 October 2008

Appleby Grammar School has won the International School Award after 20 years of overseas visits and partnerships.

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Broadening their horizons: Pupils from Appleby and Kirkby Stephen grammar schools with representatives from South African schools

Chris Grimes, the school’s international co-ordinator and deputy headteacher, received the award in London from BBC broadcaster George Alagiah,

While at the award ceremony, at the Brewery Centre by the British Council, she was informed that their students had also been commended in the British Council Link2Learn competition.

Schools nominated for or already holding International School status had to outline their activities in 2007-8 in order to qualify for this extra award, and Appleby’s development of links with three township schools in Durban convinced the judges that they were reciprocal projects.

Miss Grimes said: “More than 800 schools nationwide qualified to enter and it is very gratifying to beat off such stiff competition.

“Of all the prizewinners, Appleby is the only one in its first year of the award. All the other schools have had International School status for at least a year, so we are in very experienced and impressive company.

“Although the award is of no financial benefit, we see it as recognition of the hard work and long-term commitment of staff, students, parents and the local community, without which these activities simply would not take place.”

Miss Grimes added: “Such a strong commitment in terms of time and responsibility is increasingly rare in schools, as is the willingness of staff to give up their holidays and other free time to support the projects.”

Appleby Grammar School’s international programme is now being used as a model of good practice by local, national and international agencies.

British Council adjudicator John Rolfe described Appleby’s scope of activities and portfolio of evidence as “excellent” and praised the school for the wide range of activities offered to all staff and students.

Earlier this year, students and staff stayed for two weeks in township homes and attended schools in Durban.

Partially funded by Global Partnerships (a division of The British Council), four year 11 students investigated the potentially contentious issues of racism and prejudice in their own community before taking their findings to Durban.

While the year 11 students were in the township, 18 year 10 students were in Durban, working with students from the same three schools on a study into the effects of pollution.