Top award for Wales High

The award is a badge of honour for schools that do outstanding work in international education.

Fostering an international dimension in the curriculum is at the heart of the British Council’s work, enabling young people to gain the cultural understanding and skills they need to be global citizens.

The school’s international work includes an eight-year relationship with the Colegio Aula Viva in Paraguay and links with French College Lycée d’Artois.

Staff and pupils from both colleges regularly visit the UK, staying with pupil’s families. And students from Wales also take the opportunity to go and stay with families in Paraguay and France.

Special educational programmes are organised to help students learn about each other’s cultures including visits to historical towns, workshops in school and the chance to enjoy traditional food in local restaurants.

Gareth Hughes, the school’s international dimension coordinator said: “It is an honour to be given this award which reflects the hard work that everyone in the school does to promote the international dimension.”

John Rolfe from the British Council, added: “The school’s fantastic international work is not only giving the young people a better understanding of the world around them, but it’s really making a difference to their future prospects too.”

“Employers are telling us that international skills are just as important as exam results – so everything the school is doing is vital preparation for life in a global society and work in a global economy.”