OKEHAMPTON College?s links with a South African school have helped it become accredited as an ?international school?. The college has now received its certificate of achievement for gaining the International School Award under the scheme run by the British Council. The college held a video conference with a school in Cape Town on Friday, June 16, to mark the 30th anniversary of the Soweto uprising. Teacher Jo Gibson said the event was extremely powerful, with students getting the chance to put questions to Beverley Naidoo, the South African author of the acclaimed Journey to Jo?burg and being treated to some traditional African singing from the South African students. Mrs Gibson said the award was part of a whole school initiative, not just relating to language teaching but applicable across the whole curriculum. Having achieved the intermediate level of the award, the college has already shown that through its activities it was promoting global issues and citizenship among students. Mrs Gibson said the college had taken the ?first steps to establishing links with schools in other countries? and was looking to continue and develop that work. LEFT: Jo Gibson (left) and Leah Baker with the award and college principal Daryll Chapman. Picture by Ian Snell