King Edward VI School Achieves Gold Global School Award
King Edward VI School in Bury St Edmunds has been awarded the prestigious Gold Global School Award by Global School Alliance, recognising its outstanding commitment to international education, global citizenship, and long-term partnership working.
Building on its previous Silver Award achievement, the school has continued to embed global learning across the curriculum, expand international partnerships, and create life-changing opportunities for students and staff. The Gold Award recognises schools that demonstrate exceptional international engagement and a sustained commitment to preparing young people to thrive in their futures as confident, capable, global citizens.
A Long-Standing International Partnership Creating Global Opportunities
At the heart of King Edward VI School’s global journey is its partnership with Shanghai Yangjing Juyuan Experimental School, a relationship that has flourished since 2007.
Over nearly two decades, the partnership has provided opportunities for cultural exchange, educational collaboration, and meaningful connections between students and educators in the UK and China.
Recent activity has included:
- Hosting students and staff from Shanghai in 2024 and 2025.
- A successful student Leadership & Cultural Exchange visit to China in May 2026.
- Ongoing staff collaboration and virtual planning meetings.
- Joint student activities including leadership workshops, STEM sessions, presentations, cultural experiences and buddy programmes.
- Preparations to welcome Shanghai Yangjing Juyuan Experimental School back to the UK in September 2026.
The school’s commitment to maintaining regular, purposeful interaction has helped ensure the partnership remains vibrant, sustainable and impactful.
China 2026: A Transformational Student Experience
A major contributor to the school’s Gold Award achievement was the success of the China 2026 Leadership & Cultural Exchange programme.
Students immersed themselves in Chinese culture through:
- Lessons alongside Chinese peers.
- Leadership activities and collaborative projects.
- Museum and historical site visits.
- Traditional exercise and cultural workshops.
- Host family experiences.
- Participation in a school open day.
- The “Share Life” Farewell Tea Party.
Throughout the visit, students represented King Edward VI School with maturity, resilience and enthusiasm, acting as exceptional ambassadors for their school and community.
Reflecting on the experience, students described their highlights:
“The friends we’ve made along the way.”
“I can get used to this!”
The visit provided students with unforgettable experiences while developing confidence, independence, communication skills and intercultural understanding.
Student Voice: Growing as Global Citizens
Student feedback highlighted the profound impact international experiences have had on personal development.
Many students reported increased confidence, greater cultural awareness and a stronger willingness to embrace new opportunities.
Students shared that the experience helped them:
“Become more confident in myself and my ability to make good decisions on my own.”
“Develop the confidence to speak to new people and experience new cultures.”
Others reflected on how the trip had broadened their worldview:
“Different cultures are so beautiful to discover.”
“Everywhere is different and there’s nothing wrong with it.”
“I want to travel to rural parts of the world and immerse myself in cultures I am less aware of.”
Parent Feedback Highlights Lasting Impact
Parent feedback demonstrated the transformative effect these experiences have on students and families alike.
Parents consistently highlight increased confidence, independence, cultural awareness and enthusiasm for future international opportunities.
One parent shared:
“Thank you all who made this possible and have left life-changing, indelible positive memories in our children’s minds forever.”
Another commented:
“It was brilliantly organised and we were always confident she was safe. She got so much learning from it and would consider travelling to places like this more because she has done this.”
Many students returned home eager to continue their international journey, with one parent noting:
“Since returning he’s now wanting to go back on the trip.”
Expanding Global Partnerships Beyond China
King Edward VI School’s international engagement extends well beyond its long-standing Shanghai partnership.
In March 2026, International Coordinator Rosette Doxon participated in a Global School Alliance Leadership Delegation to China, helping establish three new international partnerships:
- Hangzhou Future Ready School
- Yali Yanghu Middle School
- Hunan Normal University Affiliated Bocai Experimental Middle School
These partnerships will create future opportunities for:
- Student exchanges.
- Curriculum collaboration.
- Professional development.
- Cultural learning experiences.
- Educational research and innovation.
A symbolic tree-planting ceremony at Hangzhou Future Ready School marked the beginning of one of these new partnerships, representing a shared commitment to long-term collaboration and mutual understanding.
The school is also actively developing partnerships in Spain and France, to support international hosting opportunities, and preparing to welcome a visiting school group from Japan.
Professional Development Through International Collaboration
The school’s global engagement work has also delivered significant benefits for staff.
Educators involved in international visits have developed leadership, communication and partnership-building skills while gaining valuable insight into different educational systems and teaching approaches.
During the China visit, staff observed lessons, explored innovative learning environments and engaged in professional dialogue with colleagues overseas.
The experience strengthened confidence in leading international programmes and reinforced the value of global learning within the school community.
Rosette Doxon reflected that the visit strengthened professional relationships built over several years while creating new opportunities for collaboration that will benefit both students and staff in the future.
Celebrating Global Learning Across the School Community
King Edward VI School ensures international achievements are shared widely across the school community.
Global activities are regularly celebrated through:
- School social media channels
- Website articles and trip blogs
- Parent newsletters
- Staff briefings
- School assemblies
- Digital displays across the school
Following the China 2026 visit, photographs and updates were showcased throughout the school, while students prepared assemblies to share their experiences and inspire future participants.
This commitment to celebrating international learning helps embed global citizenship across the entire school community.
Recognition Through the Gold Global School Award
The Gold Global School Award recognises schools that place global learning at the centre of their educational vision.
For King Edward VI School, the award acknowledges years of sustained commitment to international partnership work, cultural exchange and providing students with meaningful opportunities to engage with the wider world.
Through long-standing partnerships, transformative exchange experiences, leadership collaboration and a clear commitment to global citizenship, King Edward VI School continues to demonstrate how international education can enrich learning, broaden perspectives and prepare young people for success in an increasingly connected world.
The Global School Alliance congratulates King Edward VI School on this outstanding achievement and looks forward to supporting the next chapter of its international journey.
FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE GLOBAL SCHOOL AWARDS
Schools are supported to following an accessible methodology to encourage the development of links with partner schools around the world, enhance the curriculum and prepare students for life as global citizens.
Schools working on the programme produce an action plan for integrating international activities into the classroom, and then produce evidence to show that they have carried out these activities. The school is guided and advised throughout the process and schools are awarded the Global School Award if they meet the standard
For more information, please visit https://www.globalschoolalliance.com/global-school-awards/
