As hosts and co-ordinators of the Festival, we are delighted to announce that British Council is offering any North East schools who participate in any activities during this year’s Festival to immediate qualification for the International School Award (ISA) Foundation Certificate. Schools can also use their participation to progress with other ISA levels.
We encourage all Newcastle schools to get involved with ISA and support this as part of our work with Newcastle City Council’s School Effectiveness Team (click here to see recent ISA events and report)
Festival Participation and the ISA
British Council has been a partner and contributor to Express Yourself: North East Festival of Languages since its inception in 2021. They are offering any North East schools who participate in any activities during this year’s Festival to immediate qualification for the International School Award (ISA) Foundation Certificate. This means that schools do not need to go through the usual online application process to achieve this.
Details of schools registering for activities will be sent to British Council and a certificate will be issued and emailed to the contract provided at the school, if they do not already have an International School Award. Alternatively, for schools participation in activities not requiring registration, simply email the Festival Co-ordinator, Declan Baharini, at info@expressyourselfne.com about your participation and the details will be passed to British Council.
The Foundation Level of the award simply requires schools to do at least 1 International activity linked to the curriculum (with or without an international school partner) and there is no requirement on the number of pupils involved or the duration of the activity. The certificate does not expire.
Progressing with ISA levels and Festival activities
Schools can apply for the ISA Intermediate Level and Accreditation Level, depending on the stage they are at. These do require engagement and activities to be undertaken with an international partner school. The applications for these levels is online through the Submittable portal.
If you are participating in Festival activities then you can also use these as part of your application. You may want to do some Festival activities with your international partner school as part of your ISA work, such as Mother Tongue Other Tongue, Peace Cranes origami art project or the Festival Song.
Intermediate level requires a minimum of three activities with international focus and linked to the curriculum. One of those activities must be in collaboration with partner school abroad. Roughly half of the UK pupils should be involved in the activities as a whole. The activities must have taken place in the 12 months prior to the application date. The application can be submitted any time.
Accreditation requires more international engagement and is a two stage process.
About the International School Award
British Council’s International School Award (ISA) provides a framework for schools to develop international activities across the curriculum, including collaborative work with international partner schools and opportunities to involve the wider community. Schools can start at Foundation level and then achieve accreditation as they develop through the levels.
The International Schools Award celebrates and recognises the international work that schools do. The programme encourages schools to open their classrooms and bring the world in, teaching pupils about other countries and cultures.
- No cost for applying, some staff time is needed
- A supportive and motivational framework to guide the school’s international learning activities
- Can be adapted to any curriculum at any level from nursery to 6th form colleges and special schools
- Any school in the UK that is delivering one of the national curricula can apply for the International School Award (3 to 18 years) and there is a lot of flexibility to suit students’ abilities
The International School Award:
- prepares young people for life in a global society by increasing their understanding of other countries, cultures, and global issues
- provides a motivational framework for teachers to develop themselves professionally (Leading on this work in school gives more opportunities for professional development, working with colleagues in other countries and supporting progression)
- recognises a school’s commitment to developing global citizenship in young people, and gives opportunities to raise the school’s profile through local and national media (Media packs are provided to schools to share news with local media)
Further information
- Click here to find out more about the International School Award, guidance on how to apply, criteria and benefits. There is also a webinar about the ISA.
- International Newcastle and Newcastle City Council (School Effectiveness) hosted two events with the British Council ISA team and Newcastle schools in November 2023 to explain and explore the International School Award. Download the full report here