Gosport secondary school receives award for international work

Bay House School, in Gosport, has education ties with schools across the globe and gives pupils a chance to take part in exchange trips to places including China, Holland and France.

Students at the school have also experienced living conditions and challenges youngsters in Malawi face, whilst supporting the charity Friends of Mulanje Orphans.

To credit the opportunities it offers students, the British Council has awarded Bay House the International School Award.

Simon Hall, international co-ordinator at the school, said: ‘Regaining the International School Award for the third time is great.

‘It celebrates the hard work colleagues and students put in to ensure Bay House is an outward-looking, tolerant and broad-minded school, committed to preparing students for the challenges of life in a global society.’

John Rolfe, from the British Council, said adding an international dimension to children’s education helps prepare them for an increasingly global economy.

Mr Hall was presented with the award by Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage at a ceremony in London.

On the achievement, Ms Dinenage said: ‘This not only enriches the educational experiences of Bay House students, but also promotes a fresh approach to education more broadly. This award puts our area on the international map and I am thrilled that Bay House has been recognised for its fantastic work.’

Bay House has an emphasis on the teaching of Mandarin and Chinese culture and is just one of 42 schools in the country that has Confucius Classroom status, which sees it reach out to other institutes across Hampshire and Portsmouth.

Councillor Peter Edgar, executive member for education for Hampshire County Council, met students from Albania who were hosted by Bay House.

Cllr Edgar said:‘I think what is happening is young person think that the world has become a smaller place with the internet and jet development.’