Opportunity & Success on a Global Stage
Developing Future Leaders for Global Adventures
The King’s Group vision is to create a global community of pupils and staff; broadening horizons, fostering understanding and raising aspirations by connecting our academies with other schools across the world.
At King’s Academy Bay House School , we believe that an internationally minded curriculum builds cultural understanding, improves communication skills, and promotes knowledge and awareness of the wider world. Enrichment activities such as International Day and overseas partnership projects provide unique opportunities for students to explore people and places beyond the limitations of their surroundings.
Coordinating our international work at King’s Academy Bay House School are Ms Lu and Mrs Jackson . If you are interested in getting involved in our international projects by volunteering knowledge, or sharing your experiences or expertise, please contact us.
For more information on our the KGA International Dimension, please contact International Director, Louisa Perkin, louisa.perkins@kingsacademies.uk
European language day
To celebrate European Day of Languages, staff members who speak a second language proudly wore labels, sparking conversations and showcasing the diverse linguistic talents across the school! Some lessons, including PE, incorporated fun activities based on different languages, giving students a chance to explore new cultures. We also launched some exciting competitions on LanguageNut!
Additionally, our house competitions will run until the end of term, with even more winners to come.
International week
Our annual International Week in March was a vibrant celebration of global awareness and cultural exchange. Teachers across all subjects showcased their foreign language skills in lessons and assemblies, emphasizing the value of being multilingual and sharing personal experiences of its impact. Our international teachers also spoke to students about their home countries and cultures, offering unique perspectives on teaching in a different cultural setting.
Departments throughout the school embraced the week’s theme, exploring diverse topics such as arts and textiles in Malawi and other global regions, researching international economies, cooking dishes from around the world, and delving into the history of various nations. Students reported that International Week significantly broadened their understanding of the challenges and daily realities faced by communities worldwide, including those in Malawi.
In addition, the MFL department is excited to announce a special international menu in the school canteen during that week. Each day features delicious dishes from different countries—German, Chinese, Spanish, and French. Pupils are also encouraged to use the target language when communicating with the MFL teachers present.
The following International trips are planned for 2026:
- 2-5 February – Sixth Form History: Rome & Pompeii
- 13-15 February – Nassfeld Ski Trip
- 15-18 February – Year 8 Disneyland Paris
- 20-24 March – Geography: Iceland
- 12-28 June – Sixth Form: Cambodia
- July 2026 – MEP (Mandarin) China
Bay House is one of a small minority of schools in the country that has successfully partnered with University College London to deliver the Department for Education’s Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP) since 2017.
The Mandarin Excellence Programme is a unique and intensive language initiative that began in 2016. Currently, around 10,000 students are enrolled in the programme and are on track to becoming fluent in Mandarin. The MEP is funded by the Department for Education and delivered by the UCL Institute of Education in partnership with the British Council.
Students will study Chinese as their primary language option from Year 7 until GCSE, gaining a rich cultural experience both inside and outside the classroom. In Year 9, students are expected to participate in a two-week residential study course in China. In the past years, we have been to Beijing, Shanghai, Jinan, Shenyang, and Kunming.
Confucius Classroom
We have been part of the UCL Institute of Education Confucius Classrooms network across England since 2014, working closely with UCL and the CLEC (Centre for Language Education and Cooperation) to share resources, provide support, and ensure that Chinese is firmly embedded in our curriculum. We are also able to offer advice and influence other schools in the region that are looking to start offering Chinese. Each year, we are allocated a qualified CLEC teacher to support Chinese teaching in our school.
China day
Since 2018, Bay House School has been successfully hosting an annual China Day. Over 200 Mandarin learners from the local trust and community were invited to enjoy Chinese culture through enhanced extra-curricular provision. On the day, there were a variety of cultural workshops presented and led by professional performers/instructors from London Goldsmith College, Confucius Institute, such as Tai Chi dance, Chinese dance and Martial arts.
Work with local community and other MEP schools
As an MEP hub school, we offer training and teacher-sharing workshops to other spoke schools. Additionally, we provide Mandarin learning workshops for parents and Chinese cultural workshops, such as Chinese painting.
We are collaborating closely with the Global School Exchange to host several schools from China each year, providing their students with immersive learning experiences at our school. In turn, our students benefit by gaining a deeper understanding of cultural diversity.
We proudly have a team of 20 student ambassadors from every year group and House, dedicated to welcoming exchange students and passionately promoting international cultures throughout our school. Through engaging tutor time and lively assemblies, they foster a spirit of understanding and celebrate diversity for everyone.
During their recent visit to Bay House School, 57 Dutch pupils and their four teachers from Beatrix College enjoyed an enriching and memorable day immersed in the British education system. Welcomed by their Bay House buddies, the Dutch students experienced a range of lessons and activities alongside pupils from Years 7 to 11. The day was filled with lively discussions, where students explored similarities and differences between British and Dutch school life, culture, hobbies, and family traditions. A highlight of the visit was a collaborative presentation where pupils from both schools shared their insights into each other’s education systems and cultures.
Dutch was celebrated as the school’s “Language of the Month,” allowing the wider school community to engage in language and cultural activities in preparation for the visit. These activities not only fostered inclusivity but also aligned closely with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), by promoting intercultural learning, global citizenship, and equal opportunities. The success of the visit, reflected in positive feedback and continued collaboration between the two schools, demonstrates the lasting impact of international partnerships in broadening global perspectives.
A partnership with Kaohsiung Municipal Hsin Chuang Senior High School
Since 2020, we’ve had a successful international exchange with Kaohsiung Municipal Hsin Chuang Senior High School in Taiwan, an inspiring partnership that continues to grow.
In January 2025, we were delighted to host 22 Taiwanese students for an action-packed week. They joined in with lessons rarely taught in Taiwan, gaining a fresh perspective on British education and school life. Then in March 2025, our own Year 11 Bay House students travelled to Taiwan, where they fully immersed themselves in life at Hsin Chuang, learning side by side with local students and embracing the vibrant culture.
Together, students from both schools took part in joint presentations, comparing and contrasting British and Taiwanese education systems, cultural traditions, languages, and day-to-day life—deepening mutual understanding and respect across borders.
Our collaboration is still going strong, with Bay House teachers now delivering online lessons in Art, Computing, and Economics to students in Taiwan. We also continue to work on shared virtual lessons and collaborative projects, connecting classrooms and minds across continents.
The School’s Partnership with Friends of Mulanje Orphans (FOMO)
The School has enjoyed a long-standing partnership with the charity Friends of Mulanje Orphans (FOMO), established in June 2000. FOMO is a registered charity in both the UK and Malawi, dedicated to supporting all aspects of children’s welfare, including their education.
From 2008 until 2019, teams from our school travelled regularly to Malawi to spend time with the orphans and support various community projects. Since our first visit in 2008, the charity has made remarkable progress in the support it provides, including the construction of a secondary school (FISS) and a hostel to improve living conditions for the children.
The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted our ability to continue these visits. However, we are delighted that in July 2025, a group of our Year 11 and Lower Sixth students were once again able to travel to Malawi. During their visit, they worked closely with FOMO, spending time in orphanages, a hospital, and the secondary school that has been developed since our last visit in 2019.
Collaborating on a school-experience project with pupils from FOMO Independent Secondary School has highlighted the importance of how education can improve lives, linking to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education. The experience has been an inspirational opportunity, fostering empathy and respect. Further collaborative education projects are also planned for next year.
