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Thirty head teachers from Lithuania visited Rockwood Academy to learn how to provide pupils with a top education.

Organised by the British Council, the visit to the school was part of a Government drive to build relationships with Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

During their six-day stay in the UK, the head teachers visited five schools and learned about how the British education system works.

The purpose of the visit was to also gain an insight into how British schools tackle the challenges involved with teaching pupils from a wide range of backgrounds – including pupils with English as an Additional Language (EAL) or Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Rockwood Academy, run by CORE Education Trust and rated ‘good’ by education watchdog Ofsted in April 2016, has almost 600 pupils and an above average number of students with EAL or SEND.

It also has an above average number of students entitled to pupil premium, which is additional funding provided by the government for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and children looked after in public care.

Fuzel Choudhury, Principal at Rockwood Academy, said: “It was an absolute delight to be able to welcome the delegation from Lithuania to see our school and share the work we do to create the best opportunities for each and every one of our pupils.

“I think our biggest strength is that we put our children first and we do not operate a one curriculum fits all attitude.

“We tailor the curriculum to each child in order for them to achieve the best results they are capable of.

“Meanwhile we focus strongly on staff development, operating a ‘buddy’ system and helping our teachers to flourish to constantly deliver outstanding lessons.

“I have a clear vision for my school, one which all my staff share and we do not tolerate second best.

“I am lucky to be working with a team of dedicated and hard-working staff who motivate me in my drive to realise the best education for our pupils.

“I hope the head teachers from Lithuania were inspired by what they saw here and we can form a small part of their future as they also drive their schools onto successful futures.”

Adrian Packer, CEO of CORE Education Trust, said: “Rockwood Academy has been on an epic journey that has seen it achieve an incredible and rapid turnaround in a very short period of time.

“Much of its success is thanks to Principal Fuzel Choudhury and the team he has developed since he arrived in September 2015.

“We are very proud of Rockwood Academy and it is a joy to be able to open our doors to international visitors to share our success story and to influence teaching models across the world.”

Žydronė Žukauskaitė, Director of Education at the Lithuanian Ministry of Education and Science, said: “We were very impressed by Rockwood Academy, particularly by its pursuit for excellence and its high expectations and aspirations for its pupils and teachers alike.

“The school’s approach to leadership, which sees its Principal delegating and entrusting his deputies to share, spread and implement his vision is certainly a style I think we could emulate in Lithuania.”

Artūras Vasiliauskas, Country Director at British Council Lithuania, said: “Myself and the rest of the delegates were truly inspired to see the incredible transformation CORE Education Trust and Rockwood Academy have achieved in such a short space of time.

“There are many lessons we have learned from our visit that we plan to take back to our classrooms in Lithuania.”