Parklands High School

International Awareness Policy

LEARN RESPECT ASPIRE ACHIEVE

INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS

Introduction

The governors and staff of Parklands High School have always promoted and valued an international

dimension in the school curriculum. By widening the experience of our pupils we are preparing them to

play their role as the global citizens of the future. The embedding of the international dimension in all

aspects of the curriculum will support the removal of barriers between cultures and encourage

openness and positive communication between individuals. In so doing we aim to increase

understanding and respect of different cultures and beliefs as well as developing pupils’ communication,

personal and social skills, increasing their motivation, engagement, confidence and self-esteem.

Aims

• To extend and enhance students’ knowledge of the languages, cultures, history and geography of

countries other than their own and to celebrate their richness and diversity

• To prepare students to be global citizens by developing their sense of respect for the cultural, linguistic

and religious diversity in the world

• To promote an awareness for and sense of appreciation of European and international identity

through contact with people from other countries

• To become tolerant and understanding, courteous, curious and assured in the company of people

from other cultural and linguistic backgrounds

• To deal with the rapidly accelerating pace of change in today’s world, and feel secure in the knowledge

that their skills, training, qualifications and potential contributions will be recognised and valued across

international boundaries

Objectives

• To integrate the international dimension into the whole curriculum by raising staff awareness of

appropriate curriculum links

• To identify a member of staff as school co-ordinator for this area

• To develop an awareness of similarities and differences in lifestyle and culture in a range of other

countries

• To make contact with citizens of other countries through class links, visits and working with foreign

nationals in the classroom

• To develop different ways of communicating with partners especially through communication

technologies and to exploit opportunities for contact with them

• To investigate the scope for participating in European and international programmes

• To gather European and international resources and make these available to staff and students

• To promote education business links in the context of this policy

• To support the development of the international dimension in our feeder primary schools

• To provide opportunities for families to gain more international awareness/language learning.

Review

This policy will be reviewed as appropriate to meet school needs and in response to National and Local

policies.