Fen Park has achieved the Foundation level of the International Schools Award, marking an important step in its growing international work and forming an exciting connection with Uganda. The award recognises how schools bring global learning into everyday practice, and at Fen Park this has taken shape through a developing partnership with St Agnes Nursery and Primary School, based in Uganda.
The International Schools Award is run by the British Council, the UKās international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. Since 1999, the award has supported schools to embed international awareness into their curriculumāencouraging collaboration, curiosity and understanding of the wider world. At Foundation level, schools demonstrate how international learning is being introduced thoughtfully and meaningfully, with a clear intention to build on this work over time.
Fen Parkās award was achieved through linking with St Agnes Nursery and Primary School in Uganda. Through this connection, learners and staff have begun sharing experiences, photographs and stories of school life, helping to make global learning tangible and real. The images received from Uganda show learners proudly holding certificates and celebrating milestonesāmoments that have sparked discussion, reflection and genuine interest among Fen Park learners.
Executive Headteacher Stacy Smith has been in direct contact with the headteacher at St Agnes and has described the shared work as highly motivating. The partnership has also highlighted practical challenges faced by the Ugandan school. At present, St Agnes Nursery and Primary School does not have access to electricity and is fundraising to change this. In response, Fen Park is planning a programme of fundraising activities over the coming year, involving learners, staff and the wider communityārather than treating this as a one-off initiative.
This ongoing focus reflects the purpose of the International Schools Awardāto move beyond awareness and towards sustained engagement. Fen Park is also exploring ways to share this story more widely across Compass schools, inviting others to support the work being done in Uganda and learn from the partnership.
The British Council supports schools at every stage of the award, offering resources, professional development and opportunities to connect with partner schools worldwide. Fen Parkās Foundation certificate formally recognises its commitment to introducing internationalism into school life, with encouragement to progress towards Intermediate level and full accreditation in the future.
For Fen Park learners, the link with Uganda is already shaping how they see the world. Through shared stories, images and plans for joint activity, international learning is becoming something lived and understoodānot abstract. As the partnership with St Agnes Nursery and Primary School continues, learners are beginning to look ahead to what they can do next, how they can contribute and how learning connects far beyond the classroom.
