A KEIGHLEY school is one of only a handful of UK schools to have maintained a coveted special status for 12 years.

The British Council confirmed that it has renewed Holy Family Catholic School's International School Award for a fifth consecutive three-year period. Holy Family was informed of its success last month. (Sept) The status, which is valid for three years, recognises the school's efforts to include an international dimension within most parts of its curriculum.

Holy Family successfully demonstrated its eligibility for the award through activities such as its links to partner schools in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, and its emphasis on the importance of teaching modern languages.

Assistant head teacher Eileen Llewellyn said: "We first put an action plan together, then throughout the year we gathered evidence of our suitability for accreditation.

"The assessors said our application was 'excellent', and that they were very encouraged to see the levels of commitment and passion we dedicate to our international programme.

"I think this renewal is a credit to the hard work of our many teachers who have continued to keep the international dimension of Holy Family alive."

She noted that the school remains officially classed as a language college, adding that its focus on learning about the wider world also features an annual trip to Iceland and a cultural diversity celebration evening.