St Gregory’s Catholic College in Bath has once again been awarded the British Council’s prestigious International School Award in recognition of its repeated success in bringing the world into the classroom via links around the globe.
Melissa George & Michael Leaman from St Gregory’s School, with MP Wera Hobhouse | Photo courtesy of St Gregory’s
The secondary school in Combe Hay Lane first won the award in 2014.
Scott McDonald, chief executive of the British Council, said: “The school has earned this prestigious award through its inspirational international work and links with schools abroad.
“The International School Award is a chance for schools to be recognised for their important work in bringing the world into their classrooms. This is especially commendable when schools have been deeply affected by the global pandemic.”
Internationalism is embedded throughout St Gregory’s, providing opportunities for students to prepare themselves as global citizens, and to become more aware of social, economic and political issues that affect people worldwide.
The school has well-established educational partnerships across many European countries, as well as partner schools further afield in countries such as China, India and Japan.
Each year, St Gregory’s hosts many visiting students and teachers from schools around the world, offering insights into the English education system and the cultural richness of Bath.
In addition to hosting international guests, St Gregory’s also participates in the British Council’s Mandarin Excellence Programme. This intensive language and cultural programme allows students to gain fluency in Mandarin, a key global language. The programme is a popular language pathway for Year 7 students, who can visit China at the end of Year 9.
Headteacher Melissa George said she was honoured to collect the award at a special ceremony at the Houses of Parliament in January.
She said: “St Gregory’s have now held this prestigious award since 2014, recognising the outstanding international dimension of our curriculum, a remarkable achievement.
“We are delighted to have strong relationships and global partnerships with schools around the world and we are always seeking ways to provide our students with opportunities and experiences to look outwards and learn about other languages, people and cultures.
“We were thrilled to be joined at the ceremony by Wera Hobhouse, our local MP, to help celebrate the award.
“Study visits abroad, coupled with language placements and overseas adventures, provide St Gregory’s students with life-changing experiences which they will remember as highlights of their time at school.
“This award is testimony to the team, who have all worked so hard to develop these partnerships and opportunities for our young people, creating a lasting legacy of internationalism at our school.”
St Gregory’s primarily serves designated Catholic parishes in Bath and North East Somerset, North West Wiltshire and the north of the County of Somerset.
It has a Good overall rating from Ofsted with pupils’ behaviour and attitudes and their personal development rated as Outstanding.
St Gregory’s was also recognised as an “Outstanding” secondary school in a recent diocesan inspection.
