International Policy
Introduction
The school recognizes that:
- awareness of global issues is essential for young people living in a world where economies are increasingly interdependent and global communication is a daily reality
- an international dimension should be included in the learning experience of all our pupils
- we have a commitment to promoting racial equality and that the attitudes and values of our pupils should be informed by global issues
- the ethos of the school should reflect respect for and value of different cultures and beliefs
- pupils should be given opportunities to broaden their horizons so that they see themselves as global citizens
- pupils should develop a sense of global responsibility and by so doing enhance their self-esteem
Objectives
To enable the learning experiences of our pupils to be enriched and to encourage them to learn more about international issues, the school will:
- develop and maintain links with schools and communities in other countries. These will include:
- 1. partnerships with schools in Europe, supported as appropriate by European Union funding (Interreg, Comenius)
- 2. the partnership with the Lycée Classique de Kaélé in Cameroon, to mark and celebrate the school’s 50th anniversary
- 3. pupil trips and exchanges to a variety of different countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the USA
- 4. looking to developing links with schools in Africa and Asia
- 5. contacts and exchanges through email and videoconferencing
- work towards obtaining the International School Award
- conduct a regular audit of both curricular and extra-curricular activities in the school to record and celebrate internationalism across the school, and to ensure that there is a clearly mapped global dimension throughout the work of the school
- welcome teachers and pupils from other countries to our school
- raise awareness of sustainable development throughout the world
- provide staff with opportunities to develop professionally through contact with schools in different countries so that they can compare educational experiences
- actively encourage the study of foreign languages by offering a range of appropriate language options
- seek additional sources of funding to develop the international work of the school
- welcome and support pupils from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds
- run a Global Action day during Activities Week to raise awareness of issues faced by young people in countries of the South
- support staff wishing to initiate international themes in curricular or extra-curricular projects
- publicize international activities taking place throughout the school via a dedicated noticeboard and regular bulletins in the school newsletter
- incorporate the International Policy in the School Development Plan
- regularly review and evaluate the International Policy
