A SCHOOL at the centre of a row over a teacher training trip to Marbella is to receive an 'international school' award for its education links with other countries.

Edensor Technology College, in Longton, has been recognised by the British Council for its work in bringing the wider world into young people's classrooms.

As part of this, students and staff have been involved in curriculum projects and exchange visits as far afield as China, the U.S., Italy and Estonia, as well as Peru.

Ten pupils will be flying out to their partner school in Cusco, Peru, later this month to develop further collaborative work and see how another education system operates.

Young people have been busy raising money themselves to help cover the costs of the trip, organising everything from 'bob-a-jobs' and 'name that teddy' competitions to an Edensor's Got Talent contest and DVD.

Today, it emerged headteacher Richard Mercer, who was due to join them on the visit to South America, has decided not to go because he does not want to divert attention from pupils and their efforts.

His decision follows the furore over plans to send up to 80 teaching staff to Marbella for a training conference last week.

The four-day excursion was cancelled in the wake of adverse publicity and teachers held the conference in school instead.

Edensor Technology College is one of several schools across the region gaining international status.

Others include: Sandon Business and Enterprise College, in Meir; St Peter's High, in Penkhull; Thomas Alleyne's High, in Uttoxeter; Sandbach High; Silverdale Primary; Horton St Michael's First School, in Rudyard; and St Joseph's Prep School, in Trent Vale.

The awards scheme is designed to encourage schools to bring an international flavour to children's learning.

At Edensor, activities have included teachers from France delivering maths lessons, asylum seekers and refugees sharing their experiences with pupils, and young people learning about fair trade and how it can help workers in developing countries.

Mr Mercer said he was "delighted" with the school's international award and hoped it would lead to more opportunities for pupils.

He said in a statement: "The unprecedented expansion of the worldwide web has allowed youngsters to 'Google' travel sites and enjoy virtual visits to their selected destinations.

"But nothing can compare to the sounds, smells and real-life adventure that they experience when visiting other countries."

The trip to Peru has grown out of Edensor's partnership with Pukkla Sunchis School, in Cusco.

Pupils and several staff will be meeting their Peruvian counterparts and also spending a day visiting Maccu Picchu, the famous lost city of the Incas. Overall costs for the trip have not been revealed.

Last year, Edensor Technology College also entered The Sentinel's and Barclays' Class Act competition in the hope of winning a £5,000 prize to go towards the Peru trip. The school was not selected as one of the competition winners.

Martin Davidson, chief executive of the British Council, said: "We believe that international links bring a vitally important dimension to the education of our young people."