A RUNCORN academy has become the first in the UK to achieve an incredibly prestigious award.

Sandymoor Ormiston Academy is the only secondary school in the country to be awarded Gold Level of the prestigious Global School Awards.

This is in recognition of its long-term whole school commitment to creative, impactful, and innovative global education.

The Global School Awards celebrate the achievements of schools that do outstanding work in developing and embedding the key value, wide power and impactful benefits of global education.

Sandymoor’s work includes a sister school partnership with Wenzhou No2 Experimental School in Wenzhou, China.

As well as work experience for year 11 students in Cádiz, Spain, and a collaborative project partnership with Colegio Balder in Madrid for GCSE Spanish students.

Year 10 students also spent the summer in Tanzania helping to build a school for local children.

Academy head, Sally Jones, commented on the school’s achievement, saying: “We are delighted to be presented with this award.

“It is testament to the hard work and commitment from our staff here at Sandymoor to provide our students with the very best opportunities. 

“We are exceptionally proud to be the first secondary school to achieve Gold School Award status and plan for an excellent relationship with Global School Alliance moving forwards.”

The Global Awards began in 2020 and awards are decided by the Global School Alliance.

It is available worldwide in countries such as Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia, China, Spain, and Greece.

Encouraging schools to engage in global activities across their curriculums and to collaborate with overseas schools.

Thomas Camilleri, Founder and CEO, Global School Alliance said: “The excellent commitment to impactful global work from Sandymoor has earned It well-deserved recognition with the Gold Level of the Global School Awards.”

“We are proud and delighted to be working with this great school; many thanks to everyone for all this excellent commitment to developing global work and sharing their creative classroom practice and global activities.”