International School Award

We are proud to have been awarded the British Council’s prestigious International School Award in recognition of our work to bring the world into the classroom. The International School Award celebrates the achievements of schools that do exceptional work in international education. Our application was commended for our impressive selection of international work including a wide ranging global curriculum, extensive and rich partnership work with international schools and a key focus on shared global issues. We are extremely proud to be one of the only primary schools in Lincolnshire to have been awarded this commendation.

Alongside following the International Primary Curriculum we recognise the need to enhance all aspects of Global Education. Through our involvement in the Erasmus+ Project “Songs, Stories and Science from Marsh, Coast and Sea” we have developed deep and lasting partnerships with schools in Guadeloupe, including reciprocal visits from staff. We also participate in “La Cinemateque Franciase” a global film making project that has resulted in our children being invited to show their film in both London and Paris. 

We are committed to enhancing the international and cultural learning for all our children as we celebrate and share what is amazingly unique and wonderful about our locality; whilst learning about, learning from and celebrating different cultures from around our world.

The Turing Scheme

At North Somercotes C of E Primary School, we are continuously advancing on our mission to become a truly international school, endeavouring to make our pupils true citizens of the world. A significant step forward came when we joined the innovative Turing Scheme, connecting us with two schools in Elblag, Poland. 

Throughout the 2024/25 school year, our students engaged in regular communication and collaborative projects, focusing on the fascinating theme of our local coastlines. This partnership culminated in an unforgettable experience in June 2025, when we took 30 children on an exciting trip to Elblag. For many, it was their first time flying as we journeyed to Gdansk before traveling to the historic town of Elblag. There, our students met their Polish friends in person for the first time, participating in sports activities, watching plays, orienteering around the city, and even taking a boat trip along the famous uphill canal. This enriching cultural exchange was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, strengthening our commitment to broadening our students’ horizons and fostering global connections.

Geography Day June '25

Our whole school Geography Day was a fantastic journey around the world! Children from every class, from Reception to Year 6, spent the day exploring a country of their choice. It was a truly global day, with each class learning about exciting places like Japan, Australia, Italy, Mexico, Ukraine, Kenya, and Poland. The children had the chance to taste delicious foods from these countries, learn about their history and languages, and even make some amazing artwork inspired by their country. It was a fun and educational day that helped everyone discover new cultures and learn more about the world around them!

Visit to Poland  June '25

Year 6 recently had the exciting opportunity to visit Elbląg, Poland, as part of the Turing scheme, and it was an unforgettable experience! During their trip, the children explored the charming town, delving into its history and hearing the fascinating local legend of the Baker Boy. They also spent a day at a Polish school, where they had the chance to interact with local students and experience a different school culture. For many, this was their first time flying, adding to the excitement of the adventure. A highlight of the trip was a thrilling ride on the famous canal boats, which are pulled uphill by an innovative system—something the children found truly remarkable. The trip was not only an educational experience but also a wonderful chance for the children to bond and create lasting memories together. 

One activity that really stood out was an orienteering morning around the Old Town in Elblag city centre. Children were divided into small groups (three English, three Polish) and given a map of the city. We were they presented with pictures of the miniature Baker Boy statues and sent to find them. When we reached each statue, there was an activity to complete. The catch was that some activities were in English and some in Polish, forcing the children to work as a team to translate. The groups quickly become great friends and were soon running through the streets together, laughing and cheering each other on!

La Fruta May '25

As part of their Spanish curriculum, the Year 3 children took part in a special fruit tasting session to bring their learning to life! After practising the names of different fruits in their Spanish lessons, the children had the chance to put their new vocabulary to the test in a fun and hands-on activity. They tasted a variety of fruits such as las fresas (strawberries), los plátanos (bananas), las naranjas (oranges), las ciruelas (plums), los kiwis and las peras (pears), confidently naming each one in Spanish. It was a fantastic opportunity to combine language learning with sensory exploration, and the children thoroughly enjoyed discovering new flavours while speaking Spanish! Olivia said, "I liked that we got to mix Spanish with eating." Taliyah said, "I wish all Spanish lessons were like this.

Hablemos Espaniol!  March '25

As part of our World Book Day celebrations, Mr and Mrs Hayes-Jimenez generously led a vibrant and engaging storytelling session in Spanish. This special event offered pupils a wonderful opportunity to immerse themselves in both language and culture through a fun, interactive experience. Children were excited to take part in the oral retelling of well-known stories, eagerly using their Spanish vocabulary to join in with key phrases and dialogue. Younger pupils were captivated by the expressive storytelling and musical rhythm of the language, while older pupils extended their learning by sequencing parts of the narrative and applying their knowledge of Spanish grammar in context. The session not only brought beloved stories to life, but also deepened pupils’ enthusiasm for language learning in a memorable and meaningful way.

Life on the coast virtual presentation April '25

Our pupils worked together with their Polish partner school and Grimoldby Primary to create a special presentation all about what makes life on the Lincolnshire coast so unique. They focused on one of our favourite local sights—the Donna Nook grey seal colony, which visits our shores every year! The children loved learning about the seals and then comparing life here with life in Elbląg, the Polish city they would be visiting in June 2025.

They used their after-school club time to research fun and interesting facts they wanted to share with their Polish friends. They also decided to create some amazing seal-themed artwork to include in their presentation. “We enjoyed working together as a group to make our seal collage artwork using plastic waste” said Logan. “I hope the Polish children like our watercolours too” added Beatrix.

To make the exchange even more exciting, the pupils learned some key Polish words and phrases with the help of Mrs Abualzulof, who is a native Polish speaker. “It was tricky at first, but I can say ‘hello’ and ‘my name is’ in Polish now!” said Lexi. They practised their phrases carefully and had a go at using them when sharing their work over Teams. Great work everyone!

Chinese New Year February '25

Our EYFS children had a wonderful time learning all about Chinese New Year—the most important celebration in China! For a few weeks, our classroom was full of exciting activities that helped us explore this colourful and joyful festival. The children loved writing their names and numbers using Mandarin characters, organising their own zodiac animal races, and dancing with our big class dragon.

In the Home Corner, we created our very own Chinese restaurant where the children took turns being chefs, waiters, and customers. “I made noodles and gave them to my friends!” said Bonnie. “I was the waiter and said ‘ni hao’ when people came in!” added Joseph. We also learned some simple Mandarin phrases and practised saying them together.

The highlight of our celebration was a special lunch trip to a local Chinese restaurant. The children had the chance to try new and delicious foods like spring rolls, noodles, and sweet and sour chicken. “I liked the rice with the little vegetables in it but ribs are my favourite!” said Tobias.

It was a brilliant way to bring our learning to life, and the children really enjoyed experiencing a different culture through food, language, and play.

Christmas Carol singing December '25

We love how music can bring people together, so this Christmas, our Reception and Year 6 pupils took part in a very special project to share songs with our partner school in Poland. To help our friends learn more about Christmas in the UK, we sang a selection of traditional carols and sent them a recording to enjoy.

The children sang beautifully and chose some of their favourite songs, including Little Donkey, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Away in a Manger, We Three Kings of Orient Are, and O Come All Ye Faithful. We also listened to some lovely Polish Christmas carols and talked about how Christmas is celebrated differently in other countries.

To make our exchange even more special, we learned how to say "Merry Christmas" in Polish—Wesołych Świąt!—and taught our Polish friends how to say it in English too. It was a lovely way to spread Christmas cheer and feel connected to our friends, even though they’re far away.

Erasmus+ Project

As our school sought to reach beyond its community to support the children to have a better understanding of the wider world we partnered with Grimoldby Primary School and  two schools from Guadeloupe: EEPU Bragelogne from Baie Maihault and Ecole Elementaire Stephane Mathieu from Bananier. Our partnership was centred on the exchange of good practices linked to the theme of  ‘Songs, stories and science from marsh, coast and sea.’ 

Developing the cultural experiences of our children was the prime motivation for us joining this project. The contribution to the development of  our school was transformational. Firstly, it led to increased respect and understanding for cultures and communities beyond Lincolnshire and beyond the UK, and their importance. Secondly, it enhanced teaching and learning of the French language, by providing us with a practical and real context for application. Thirdly, it developed our staff confidence and understanding in how to manage successful collaboration between schools in other countries.

la Cinemateque Francaise

We regularly participate in an exciting project that has seen us link up with a number of schools in Lincolnshire and with the British Film Institute. We have been able to give children from year 6 the opportunity to learn about the early pioneers of film through to the exciting new blockbusters of today and how they are made.

The la Cinemateque Francaise allows children from all over the world to engage in film as part of their learning.  Each year they choose a theme that the children need to follow. Eventually, they will work towards creating their own 8 minute piece of cinematic history. Along the way the children will improve their skills with a series of exercises.

London July 2019

On Monday 24th June Rose, Jessica, Charlotte, and Harry travelled to London to showcase our film at the BFI on the Southbank. The children were fantastic and a credit to the school. After the show case we walked to British Museum and saw some amazing sights.

Paris June 2019

We had just returned from showcasing our film at the La Cinematheque Francaise. There were over 200 schools from countries all over the world in Paris. After we showed our film the children had a question and answer session. Once we finished in the cinema we were able to explore Paris, seeing all the world famous sites. The children had a fantastic time and were wonderful ambassadors of our school.