Foreign links win top award (From Witney Gazette)

Foreign links win top award

9:00am Wednesday 18th October 2006 in Witney By Jo Duckles

NTERNATIONAL activity has won Woodstock's Marlborough School a prestigious award.

s=8Broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby presented the school with the Department for Education and Skills International School Award during a ceremony in London.

Links with schools in Germany, France, Belgium, USA, Poland, and Africa are among the activities which earned the school the award.

Through the Comenius Project, which started in 2003, the school has seen pupils working together with those from other countries across projects about youth music, culture, and attitudes.

The tricentenary of the Battle of Blenheim in 2004 was included in those projects, when Marlborough School linked up with St Bonaventura Realschule, a German school which has the site of the battle in its catchment area.

Assistant headteacher and international co-ordinator, Clarrie Haynes, said: "We are thrilled to be recognised in this way.

"Links with all our international partners have enriched our curriculum, and given the children and teachers a truly international perspective."

Pupil Josh Wyatt, 15, said: "I've learned a lot about people my age in other countries.

"The visits to Germany and Belgium we made enabled me to make friendships with pupils from these countries.

"The work we did co-operatively showed the strength of the programme."