FIFTEEN schools across the North-East have been recognised for their global outlook.

They are among 120 schools in the UK that have achieved the International School Award this year, which is given for commitment to educating pupils about life in other countries.

The award is financed by the Department for Education and Skills and administered by the British Council.

The awards were presented at a ceremony in London last month and a celebration was held at Lumley Castle, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

Schools that are looking to achieve the award were also invited.

Among the speakers at the event was Peter Barron, editor of The Northern Echo.

Brian Stobie, Durham County Council's international officer, said: "The award is a quality mark that says a school is committed to making links with children and schools in other countries and having much larger dimension on the world.

"Schools have to submit action plans on what they will do in the next 12 months."

Mr Stobie said teachers from Brandling Primary School, in Felling, Gateshead, had spent six weeks teaching in Uganda during their holidays, had links with schools in Australia and Brazil and given its pupils lessons in Mandarin Chinese.

Mr Stobie said it was important for schools to develop an international perspective to education when news was available across the globe.