NCEA Duke's Secondary School celebrates British Council International School Award reaccreditation

Duke's Secondary School in Ashington has successfully achieved reaccreditation for the British Council’s prestigious International School Award, recognising its ongoing commitment to international learning, collaboration and global citizenship.

The reaccreditation celebrates the school’s extensive programme of international activity, which is embedded across the curriculum and wider school life.

The British Council’s International School Award celebrates schools that embed international learning across their curriculum and wider school community, helping young people develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to participate confidently in a globally connected world.

A key part of Duke's Secondary School’s international work is its long-established partnership with Röntgen-Gymnasium in Remscheid, Germany, which dates back to 1952. Through this partnership, pupils take part in exchanges and collaborative projects that develop their understanding of other cultures, strengthen communication skills and encourage a sense of shared global responsibility.

The school’s German Exchange in September and October 2025 involved 24 pupils aged 13–14. Visiting pupils were welcomed into lessons and school life, working collaboratively across subjects including Modern Foreign Languages, Science, Maths and Humanities. A structured buddy system also supported shared breaktimes, physical education, after-school activities and educational visits.

International learning has also been supported through the school’s Five Day Movement Challenge and Pen Pal project which brought together 49 pupils from Duke’s Secondary School and its German partner school.

Together, pupils completed a combined total of 2,596,950 steps - equivalent to walking from Duke’s Secondary School to Remscheid and back - with distance still remaining. The project promoted health and wellbeing while encouraging communication, teamwork and international friendship.

Global learning is further embedded through the school’s Sustainable Development Goals curriculum mapping initiative. Pupils explore global issues and international perspectives across various subjects..

Other international opportunities have included a Paris STEM visit focused on the physics of Disney Parks, Mandarin conferences and language activities, an Amsterdam educational visit, an international ski trip, Culture Week, the Pen Pal Club and tutor-time activities linked to UNIFROG and PSHE.

The school’s Paris STEM visit, held in February 2026, involved 40 pupils aged 14–16. Pupils explored forces, motion, energy, engineering and technology while working collaboratively with students from other schools. The experience also provided opportunities for authentic French language and cultural learning.

Duke’s Secondary School’s Diversity Day Cultural Celebration Event also brought global learning into the wider school community. Over six weeks, 194 pupils planned and delivered a whole-school event for Year 7 pupils. Activities included cultural light globes, Chinese calligraphy, cultural games and sports, international food and hospitality activities, and traditional piñatas. The project developed pupils’ skills in planning, teamwork, communication, promotion, customer experience and resource management.

Shainie Mckinney, International Coordinator at Duke’s Secondary School, said: “We are delighted to have our international work recognised through the British Council International School Award. Our partnership with Röntgen-Gymnasium, the German Exchange, the Five Day Movement Challenge, our Disneyland Paris STEM visit and Diversity Day, led by pupils from our former sixth form, have provided our pupils with valuable opportunities to broaden their knowledge, build confidence and develop a greater understanding of the wider world. These experiences encourage pupils to apply their learning beyond the classroom, engage with Science and Engineering, and develop the skills needed to become thoughtful global citizens”.

The reaccreditation also recognises the commitment of staff, pupils, families and international partners who have helped make global learning a central part of the school’s identity.

As part of its continuing international work, Duke’s Secondary School plans to share its experience with other schools, support pen-pal links and international communication, and develop further joint projects focused on health, active lifestyles and global learning.