Opportunity & Success on a Global Stage

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 Rowner, we believe that an internationally minded curriculum builds cultural understanding, improves communication skills, and promotes knowledge and awareness of the wider world. We use opportunities within our curriculum, such as our daily assemblies, MfL and cross-curricular teaching, in addition to enrichment activities such as International Day and overseas partnership projects to explore people and places beyond the limitations of their surroundings. 

International School Award

We are proud that King’s Academy Rowner achieved the Foundation Level of the International School Award in May 2025. This recognises our strong commitment to developing global citizenship across our school. The award celebrates our wide-ranging international activities, including themed assemblies, a whole-school approach to global learning, and our exciting partnership with a school in Czechia.

The feedback highlighted how our pupils are actively engaged in learning about global issues and praised our efforts to broaden their understanding of the world. With a dedicated webpage showcasing our work and plans already underway for the next stage, we are delighted to be recognised for taking such meaningful steps on our international journey.

We look forward to building on this success as we work towards the next level of the award!

Food Waste Project: May 2026

Our International Ambassadors have recently completed an important project looking at food waste in our school.

Over a two-week period, the ambassadors weighed the food waste collected after lunchtime each day. They carefully recorded the results to identify which days produced the most waste and discussed possible reasons why. They noticed that some menu choices were more popular than others and considered how this might affect the amount of food thrown away.

As part of their investigation, the children spoke with our school cook to learn more about the different types of waste produced in the kitchen. They discovered that some waste, such as potato peelings and other food preparation leftovers, is collected separately. The ambassadors were also interested to find out what happens to food waste after it leaves our school and learned that it is recycled rather than sent to landfill.

The ambassadors then shared their findings with the rest of the school during an assembly. They encouraged everyone to think carefully about reducing food waste by:

• Choosing foods that they know they will eat.
• Telling an adult if there is something on the menu that they do not like.
• Taking uneaten packed lunch items home where appropriate.
• Thinking carefully before taking more food than they need.

The children also explained why reducing food waste is so important. Wasting less food helps us to stay healthy by making positive food choices, reduces unnecessary spending, and helps to protect our environment.

This project links closely to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, which encourages us all to reduce waste and use resources responsibly.

We are very proud of our International Ambassadors for leading this important work and helping our school community think about how we can all make a difference.

Sir Roger Fry Visit: April 2026

We were delighted to welcome Sir Roger Fry, founder of KGA, to KA Rowner for a very special visit. Sir Roger Fry is the visionary behind our family of schools, and he is passionate about providing children with the very best opportunities, both in and beyond the classroom. It was a pleasure to share with him the super work happening across our school. He is photographed proudly holding the KGA MAT of the Year Award.

During his visit, Sir Roger spent time with some of our Year 6 pupils. They told him lots about what they enjoyed about KA Rowner. And, what they will miss when they leave us at the end of the term. The children were very enthusiastic about our Dance Live performances. Sir Roger thoroughly enjoyed watching our most recent our most recent performance.

Sir Roger was given a thorough tour of the school by our Executive Headteacher Mrs Mulhall. He was impressed with how well all learners were engaged with their learning.

One of the highlights of the visit was Sir Roger’s fascination with our 3D printer. He hadn’t seen one uo close before. He was excited to it in action for the first time. We have him a 3D printed gift which he liked very much.

Thank you, Sir Roger, for your continued interest and support. We always enjoy your visits and are proud to share all that we do at KA Rowner.

Winter Olympic Fever: February 2026

What an incredible few weeks it has been enjoying the magic of the Winter Olympics 2026 in Milan! Across KA Rowner, children and staff alike have been inspired by the drama, determination and sporting excellence on display. Half-term has provided the perfect opportunity for extended viewing.

From the speed and teamwork of ice hockey to the elegance of figure skating and the sheer courage shown in the skeleton events, the Games have captured imaginations throughout the school. But we were determined not just to watch. We wanted to take part.

Last week, our fantastic International Ambassadors led a series of Mini Olympic-themed sessions every lunchtime, giving everyone the chance to experience the Olympic spirit first-hand. A huge thank you to Mr Hill for supporting and helping bring the programme together, which included:

• Rowner Curling
• Rowner Skiing
• Rowner Ice Hockey
• And many other creative Olympic-inspired challenges

The leadership shown by our Ambassadors was super and it was brilliant to see so many children getting involved with enthusiasm, resilience and teamwork. The Olympic spirit is about far more than medals. It is about courage, perseverance, respect and striving to achieve your very best.

Who knows… we may have some future gold medallists here at KA Rowner!

Our International Ambassadors on the Global Stage: January 2026

What a day! We are incredibly proud of our International Ambassadors, who represented our academy so confidently and thoughtfully at the inaugural King’s Group Academies Global Stage Forum.

Yesterday, International Student Ambassadors from across the Trust came together for a powerful day of collaborative learning and action planning, centred on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Children and young people aged 9 to 18 worked side by side, sharing ideas, listening to different perspectives and exploring the real-world issues facing our planet.

Throughout the day, our Ambassadors engaged brilliantly, showing maturity, curiosity and a genuine commitment to making a positive difference. They spoke with confidence, worked collaboratively with pupils from other academies and demonstrated exactly what it means to be a global citizen and a leader of change within their school community.

Following the event, our Ambassadors were invited to speak in assembly about their experience. They did so with great confidence and without hesitation, speaking eloquently about what they had learned and how much they had enjoyed the day. They clearly articulated their new understanding, reflected thoughtfully on the discussions they had taken part in, and inspired others with their enthusiasm and pride in representing our school.

Seeing our pupils step onto the global stage fills us with optimism. Their passion and sense of responsibility give us great confidence that the actions they are planning will have a meaningful impact—not just within our academy, but in their local communities and beyond.

This was a wonderful opportunity and just the beginning. More information about their next steps and how they will be taking this work forward in school will follow next week.

International Day: November 2025

On 14.11.25 we celebrated our second International Day, and the school was buzzing with excitement as each year group explored a different country from around the world. The day was designed to help us broaden our horizons and foster global understanding, reflecting our commitment to The King’s Group vision and our aim to develop an internationally-minded curriculum.

Across the school, pupils learned about people and places beyond where we live, helping them take important steps towards becoming global citizens.

Year 3 travelled (in spirit!) to New Zealand, discovering its unique wildlife, Māori culture, and stunning landscapes.
Year 4 explored the vibrant traditions, food, art, and history of Mexico.
Year 5 immersed themselves in South African music, culture, and geography.
Year 6 delved into Thailand, learning about its festivals, customs, and natural wonders.

Children took part in activities from across the curriculum: art, geography, dance, music, and more, bringing each country to life in creative and meaningful ways. The atmosphere around school was joyful and lively, with pupils eager to share what they had learned and experienced.

It was a wonderful day of learning, curiosity, and celebration, strengthening our understanding of the wider world and our place within it.

International Ambassadors: October 2025

We are delighted to announce the appointment of our new International Ambassadors. Each class has one pupil for this important role, following a written application process where children shared why they wanted to represent their class and how they could help strengthen our school’s international work.

The International Dimension was launched last year and has already been recognised with a British Council International School Award. This was a fantastic achievement that celebrates our commitment to global learning. A big thank you goes to Miss Daly for leading this inspiring part of our curriculum.

Our International Ambassadors will help to develop this area even further, supporting projects and events that celebrate our connections with both our local and global neighbours. Learning about different cultures, traditions, and ways of life helps our pupils to understand the world around them, appreciate diversity, and recognise their place as global citizens. We are excited to see how our new ambassadors will help our school community continue to learn, share and grow together.

Swiss Trainees: September 2025

We were delighted to welcome four Swiss trainee teachers to our school on 29.9.25. They have been completing a placement at KA Gomer, but spent the day with us to experience life at our school and they told us they thoroughly enjoyed it! It was wonderful for our children to meet teachers from another country and to share learning together. This visit is also part of our commitment to the International Dimension within our curriculum, helping our children to learn about global neighbours and the wider world.

Year 5 International Partnership with Czech School: June 2026

Since the launch of our International Dimension, Year 5 have embarked on an exciting new partnership with Základní škola Francova Lhota, a school in Czechia. To kick off the collaboration, pupils from both schools created presentations about their school and local area, complete with video tours. It was fascinating to explore the similarities and differences in our school environments and communities.

After sharing their presentations, the children exchanged thoughtful questions and responses, sparking lively discussions and curiosity about each other’s experiences and perspectives.

The next stage of the project saw Year 5 pupils working collaboratively in groups to create a Google Slides presentation on key moments in British history. In return, we received an insightful presentation from our Czech partners, showcasing significant events in Czechia’s history.

This international partnership has already inspired curiosity, creativity, and connection, and we can’t wait to see where this exciting journey takes us next.

Chinese New Year: 19.01.2025

Today, we embraced the Chinese Lunar New Year as part of our International Curriculum at King’s Academy Rowner. The celebrations began with an assembly led by Mrs Mulhall, where children learned more about this important festival and got excited for the afternoon’s themed activities. A highlight of the day was our special Chinese-themed menu, which proved to be a huge hit across the school! With such positive feedback, we may need to make it a regular feature on our menu. To mark the occasion, each class was gifted a lucky red envelope containing a specially made snake which was produced using our school’s 3D printer. As 2025 is the Year of the Snake, each class named their snake, and it will now remain in their classroom as a symbol of hope and positivity for the year ahead. This celebration has been a fantastic way to learn more about global traditions, and we look forward to continuing our international curriculum with more exciting cultural events throughout the year. 新年快乐 (Xīnnián kuàilè) – Happy New Year!

International Day: 15.10.2024

At King’s Academy Rowner, we were excited to launch the International Dimension to our curriculum with our very first International Day. This event was an integral part of our commitment to fostering a global understanding within our curriculum, aligning with The King’s Group vision. It was an opportunity for our children to connect with different cultures, explore countries beyond their immediate surroundings, and learn about the people and places that make up our diverse world. By introducing an internationally-minded curriculum, we aim to build cultural awareness, improve communication skills, and raise aspirations, preparing our pupils to become well-rounded global citizens. We were also delighted to welcome Sir Roger Fry, a founding member of King’s Group Academies, who joined us to see first-hand the fantastic learning taking place. His presence made the day even more special, and the children were proud to share their knowledge and activities with him. One key aspect of our International Day is linking the global with the local. We want our children to explore the geography of the world while reinforcing their understanding of our own unique location. Through our International Day, we are also taking another step towards our goal of achieving British Council accreditation. This event, alongside our assemblies, Modern Foreign Languages lessons, and cross-curricular projects, is part of our ongoing effort to promote the international dimension of our curriculum. Each year group focused on a different country that is not currently featured in our existing curriculum:

• Year 3 – Japan
• Year 4 – Fiji
• Year 5 – Poland
• Year 6 – Romania

The children thoroughly enjoyed the day, which provided a fantastic platform for further learning. We are confident that their experiences on International Day will spark curiosity and a greater appreciation for the world around them. And, we are keen to work with our parents to help share expert knowledge and experiences. Together, we are building bridges across continents and creating a truly international school community.