Since Agora Lledó International School in Castellon, Spain attained the Bronze Award in November 2021, they have continued to develop their international links and now have a partner school in England. In recognition of its whole-school commitment to creative and innovative global education, the school has now been awarded the Silver Level of the prestigious Global School Awards.
Headmaster Luis Madrid Gimenez said: “As an international school, the opportunity to work with the Global School Alliance has boosted our students’ motivation to learn about the world. We hope to continue our collaboration together in this wonderful programme and hope that our students will learn to live in a healthier and more harmonious future.”
What actions did you take to go from Bronze to Silver level?
We have actively promoted to our students, teachers and the educational community about the importance of being a part of a global society. This has been accomplished with international exchange programmes, virtual contact between students, and participation in worldwide activities.
How have international partnerships benefited your school? Can you share some highlights?
With the GSA, our Years 8 and 9 learnt the importance of sharing projects and ideas with a school in the UK. Our Year 10 students take part in a cultural exchange programme with a school in the Netherlands. All international partnerships ALWAYS benefit a school and is a must for an increasingly global society.
As an international school, the opportunity to work with the Global School Alliance has boosted our students’ motivation to learn about the world. We hope to continue our collaboration together in this wonderful programme and hope that our students will learn to live in a healthier and more harmonious future.
How have staff been supported to embed global dimensions across the curriculum?
Our staff have at first found the international partnerships challenging as they had to focus on the national curriculum, but had realised that the students benefitted a lot from the partnerships and the knowledge acquired from them.
How has the Global School Alliance benefited you as a teacher and the opportunities for your school?
The GSA has been an opportunity to learn about how teachers around the world deal with their educational curriculums, how students learn from interacting with each other and also the necessity to adapt to improve and learn.
What benefits do you think this award will have on the whole school community?
The school community is aware of the alliance and how the students have learnt from it and the silver award has given a boost to maintaining international relations with students from around the world.
How will you use this award to motivate students and staff?
The students are very energetic and with the award they will see a chance to continue learning from other students of their age from around the world. The staff have seen that even though their daily schedules can be challenging, working with other schools gives ideas and new resources which can be implemented into their teaching.
What are your plans for the future to develop internationalism and reach Gold level?
The Gold Level is the ultimate motivation for the whole school community. The plan for the future would be to have more age groups involved in international events and partnerships starting with primary school learners until baccalaureate. And with the right motivation, for teachers to cooperate much more with each other in the formation of a global resource site.
Become an Award-Winning School
The Global School Awards are a supportive and motivational framework that guides and supports schools through their international work. With three certified Levels of Recognition, the Award takes schools from introducing international work to the curriculum, to embedding it within the school’s culture and wider ethos.
The Award provides a valuable framework around which to build and develop a whole school approach to embedding and celebrating a commitment to the enriching, innovative and creative international dimensions of teaching and learning.
Schools are supported to follow an accessible methodology to encourage the development of links with partner schools around the world, enhance the curriculum and prepare students for life as global citizens.
