Cambourne Village College holds the British Council International Schools Award, which it gained in September 2024. According to Scott McDonald, Chief Executive of the British Council, “The school has earned this prestigious award through its inspirational international work and links with schools abroad. The International School Award is a chance for schools to be recognised for their important work in bringing the world into their classrooms. This is especially commendable when schools have been deeply affected by the global pandemic. The desire to build on their international work shines through and it is with utmost pride that we celebrate their achievements.”
Cambourne Village College strives to embed and advance The Cam Academy Trust’s core international principle:
‘All our schools have a clear international emphasis in their educational provision both within and beyond the formal curriculum. This is crucial as part of any meaningful education and crucial for the positive functioning of all societies.’
Our strong international ethos lies at the heart of our school community and plays a pivotal role in providing first-class opportunities, which support the development, growth and success of our students as citizens of the world.
Students at Cambourne Village College have access to a wide range of international opportunities thanks to longstanding partnerships with schools from Germany, Spain, Peru and Malawi, as well as partnerships with organisations including The British Council, Qatar Foundation International and The Turing Scheme.
Our Partnerships:
In 2025, Cambourne Village College launched an exciting new partnership with Albertus Magnus Gymnasium in Viersen, North Rhine-Westphalia.
In June, supported by the Turing Scheme, a group of Cambourne students travelled to Germany to take part in a four-day collaborative project with their German peers. Working in mixed groups, students explored the themes of culture and identity through a variety of creative activities. The project encouraged multilingual collaboration, giving Cambourne students the opportunity to brush up on their German while celebrating the many languages spoken across both schools.
The programme culminated in a series of impressive final presentations, showcasing the students’ efforts to capture the spirit of the project. Through poetry, music, visual art, and discussion, they shared their individual stories and collective experiences, celebrating the rich diversity within their school communities.
The trip also included cultural visits to Cologne and Düsseldorf, offering students a genuine insight into German life—from enjoying traditional foods and school festivities to exploring iconic landmarks such as Cologne Cathedral and the Düsseldorf Rheinturm.
This memorable visit was far more than a school exchange—it was a meaningful opportunity for students to broaden their horizons, form lasting friendships, and embrace what it truly means to be global citizens.
Over the last five years, students of Cambourne Village College have been joining students from Comberton Village College to take part in the German exchange. Every year, Cambourne Village College students travel to Bad Hersfeld where they stay with host local families. During their stay, our students attend lessons with their German peers, experience cooking traditional German cuisine as part of a cooking workshop, participate in an art project and enjoy excursions around the local area.
Later in the academic year, our German partners come to Cambourne to stay with their Cambourne Village College host families. They attend lessons with their peers and participate in a range of activities, which give them an insight into life in the UK.
The outcomes and impact of this successful partnership are linguistic, social and cultural. Firstly, this experience supports students with deepening their comprehensive and productive skills. As with our Spanish exchange programme, this experience increases students’ confidence in using the language and helps them to value the importance of learning German.
In addition to the linguistic value, students have the opportunity to widen their cultural awareness of German traditions, history and the diversity of cultures within German society. As a result of this immersive experience, our students are more appreciative of the benefits of learning this language as part of being a global citizen. Moreover, it motivates many students to continue learning German at KS4 and beyond.
In Geography lessons, Year 7 students are given the task of producing handwritten letters to their Malawian partners, which includes an introduction to themselves, their home and local area, the features of their school and their hobbies. These letters are delivered by the CEO of African Vision, who shares photos of the students receiving their letters. Letters are then sent back to the UK and students have the opportunity to respond to their partners.
This longstanding partnership with Chikhutu Primary School allows Cambourne Village College students to appreciate the diversity of how others live around the world. Moreover, in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, this international activity increases students’ awareness of the some of the environmental and socio-economic challenges that face our global communities.
Together with with Comberton Village College, Cambourne Village College has established a strong partnership with Lord Byron School in Arequipa, Peru. Every two years, students from Arequipa travel to the UK to spend two weeks living with our students and their families.
The primary aim of this partnership is to widen students’ understanding and appreciation of the Spanish-speaking world and explore the history of Peru’s rich cultural heritage and diverse communities. In the UK, Spanish teaching and learning is primarily Eurocentric, which can narrow young people’s exposure to different Hispanic cultures and forms of language. Our partnership with Lord Bryon School is therefore a valuable means of broadening our students’ outlook and awareness of the geographical, historical and social features within different Spanish-speaking societies (in line with the SDG goals). Additionally, it is a means of motivating our learners to use and develop their Spanish language skills in an authentic setting.
In 2023 and again in 2024, Cambourne Village College was awarded funding from Qatar Foundation International to develop an enrichment programme for students to learn Arabic. Since its introduction, this programme has proved highly successful, with students developing an impressive level of proficiency in the language and going on to achieve top GCSE grades.
As part of our Arabic programme, students are also given the opportunity to take part in the QFI Arabic Speaking Competition. In July 2024, Year 10 student, Majed, was announced as a national winner of the QFI Speaking Competition, beating over 500 applicants. Majed had the honour of attending the awards ceremony at Oxford University, where his incredible achievements were celebrated with other winners from across the country.
Cambourne Village College is proud to have built a long-standing partnership with Colegio Rosa Molas in Zaragoza, Spain. Over the past five years, students from Cambourne have joined peers from Comberton Village College to take part in an enriching annual exchange programme that fosters language learning, cultural awareness, and lasting friendships.
Each year, Cambourne students travel to Zaragoza, where they are warmly welcomed by local host families. During their stay, they attend lessons at our partner school, develop collaborative projects with Spanish students, and explore the rich cultural and historical heritage of the city and its surroundings. In return, Spanish students visit Cambourne later in the academic year, staying with host families, joining lessons, and taking part in a range of activities that offer a unique insight into British school life and culture.
From a linguistic perspective, this exchange brings language learning to life. The immersive experience of living and learning in a Spanish-speaking environment provides a significant boost to students’ language skills, especially in listening and speaking. Upon their return, students are noticeably more confident in their use of Spanish—testament to the power of real-world language exposure.
In May 2025, supported by the Turing Scheme, a group of Cambourne students travelled once again to Zaragoza to take part in a four-day collaborative project with their Spanish peers at Colegio Rosa Molas. Working in mixed groups, students explored the themes of culture and identity through poetry, music, visual art, and discussion—expressing their personal stories and shared values, and celebrating the multilingual and multicultural richness of both school communities.
The packed itinerary also incorporated a number of memorable excursions, including exploring Monasterio de Piedra, Aljafería Palace, and the iconic Basílica del Pilar.
This flourishing partnership with our Spanish friends continues to inspire students, offering unforgettable experiences that extend learning far beyond the classroom and help shape confident, open-minded global citizens.
