“My world has just got bigger. I have realised that it is my duty to be a global citizen.”
Sixth Form student, following South Africa visit
International Schools Award In 2009 (and again in 2012) St. Mary's was awarded the  International Schools Award in recognition of the highly innovative international and community schemes the school has pioneered.
The award recognises schools who are leading the way in installing a global dimension into the learning experience of all children and young people.
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Developing International Citizens
St. Mary’s values the rich experience and cultural diversity found through close liaison and collaboration with staff and pupils in all our partner schools. There are numerous opportunities for St. Mary’s students to broaden their horizons beyond the United Kingdom.
French and German Exchanges
The 25th anniversary of the link between St. Mary's and Franziskus-Gymnasium in Germany, was marked in 2011, with 1,420 students having taken part over the years.
Comenius Programme
St. Mary's also takes part in the  Comenius programme, in a partnership of nine schools across Europe. The aim of our Comenius project, entitiled 'The mobile school' is to bring people together and connect. We want the students to discover the different cultures of the partner schools in various ways. St. Mary's enjoys an annual Sicilian Exchange which was established in 2005.
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Our Comenius Partner Schools
Our Comenius Project 2012-
For more information on our Comenius project, the title of which is 'Our Mobile School' or to add to the forums, visit our website at
mobileschool.eu
let's live, work, learn, play, eat and exchange TOGETHER
"The mobile school project is all about bringing people together and feeling connected. We want the students to discover the different cultures of the partner schools in various ways. Throughout the 2 years of the project the students will work on short films about cultural heritage, typical food, sports, music etc. to promote the countries of the partnership to youngsters.
But, we don't only want the students to exchange info on the different aspects of culture. We also want them to experience it. Therefore, we plan two kinds of activities where students have the opportunity to meet:
First there is the European Mobile School, in which students and accompanying teachers will live, work, learn, eat, teach and play together for one week. This will happen in internationally mixed classes that teachers will teach on political, cultural and historic topics of their countries in order to create a better understanding of the differences and similarities of each other's culture. Students will have to present their school and region to their partners. They will also discuss the scenario of the films and look for input for the films.
Secondly, our partnership will also organise student exchanges, in which as many students as possible will spend one week at the partner school's parents' homes during the first year. The return visit will take place in the second year. In that way students will be totally (physically and mentally) immersed into their partner's culture, increasing the awareness that we are all part of a greater European community. During these exchange weeks they will work on the editing of the films and perform activities to discover more of each other's culture. At the end of the project, we will have several films to promote the countries of the partnership to youngsters."
The website for our previous Comenius project,
puttingusonthemap.eu which ended in 2011 is still available. The aim of the "Putting us on the Map" project was to learn about the local communities of our partner schools and at the same time share our community with them.
Beyond Europe
Every year since 2008, Sixth Form students visit
South Africa for our internationally acclaimed
Bambisanani Partnership.
Others are involved in the
World Challenge trekking in locations such as the Himalayas, Peru and Tanzania. In 2012, 51 St. Mary’s pupils in Years 11–13 and six staff took part in the World Challenge expedition to Tanzania. They worked on charitable projects such as building new classrooms. Two groups climbed Kilimanjaro and two Mount Meru. All groups spent time on the coast which involved sailing, kayaking and snorkelling. The next expedition is to Equador in 2014.
St. Mary's also works with Sefwi Wiawso Senior High School in Western
Ghana as part of the six school Connecting Classrooms 'Noboa' project. Noboa is a Ghanaian word meaning ‘weeding and helping’, where traditionally farmers cooperated and shared good practice for the benefit of all.
There is a bi-annual Ski Trip to the
United States.
Sixth Form pupils have the opportunity to study the
Chinese language.
St. Mary's International Newsletter
Our latest International Newsletters are available below:
International Mosaic
In June 2009, during our International Week, every St. Mary's pupil worked on creating this beautiful mosaic which is in our open picnic area. The sun's rays represent all the different international links St. Mary's enjoys.