Excellence in education – schools

Winner: International School of London (ISL)

---

This article is taken from the 2025 Awards supplement in the Summer 2025 issue of Think Global People magazine

Click on the cover to access the digital edition.

View your copy of the Summer 2025 issue of Think Global People magazine.

---

“The entry showcases each aspect of the ISL approach to relocation – the highly effective and authentic community connections, the impact on those receiving this support at all levels and from the beginning of the process. Most of all, ISL’s commitment to excellence with and for their students and families.” Category Judges.

---

The judges were full of praise for the International School of London’s (ISL) winning entry.

Embracing creative connections

Arguably, this entry more than any other, took to heart this year’s theme of the value of creative connections. The International School of London (ISL) places considerable emphasis on collaboration and making creative connections for the benefit of students, parents, and all stakeholders involved in children's education when families are on the move.  There is clear effort made by the leadership team to link up both with staff and parents and for families to share experiences. It is good to see that the senior leadership team is so actively involved in building communities.

The school recognises the multi-faceted and complex nature of relocation, and key to that is the care to ensure that connections are created ahead of relocation, toward ensuring an effective and calm transition as well as at different stages of the education journey. From class buddy to first day teacher who speaks their home language to student ambassadors there is a warm welcome.

This is illustrated by fun events like Multilingualism Week and the International Food Festival which celebrate diversity and bring people together. Parents are clearly very involved in school life. Families and staff also get great tools and resources like checklists, training, and workshops to help with the move.

Judge, Pam Mundy reminded the audience of the importance of education, “As an educator myself, it's critical that we have people in this world focusing on the main thing, which is our children. All of you, all of us here, wouldn't be in a job if it wasn't for the children”.

For Claudine Hakim, Head of Transitions Care and Student Support, International School of London it was clearly a joyful result with smiles radiating around the room and whoops of delight from her team members.

She said “On behalf of the team at ISL, we'd like to thank the judges for their consideration. The event is always so special, and what matters to us is that this is a category that you consider. On many, many occasions, schools are forgotten, and as you were saying, putting the children first is so important and it's very much part of our DNA to look after our community and the wellbeing of our community. So, thank you, and congratulations to the other schools who are on the awards shortlist as well.”

Looking to the legacy

The heart-warming entry video reflected the creative partnerships across the school community. It opens with the esteemed Dr Doug Ota, founder, Safe Passage Across Networks (SPAN), “If you are coming to the school you are lucky to be coming… ". The children are at the heart of the story with many child interviewers including a young boy who enthuses about how much he loves the school, “Thank you ISL for making my life good” and how he will tell his children and grandchildren about it. Parents spoke passionately about the nationalities, cultures and languages represented in the school and the value of the parents English class. The judges recognised an underlying theme of ‘legacy’ for the future and commitment to excellence for their students and families.

The range of activities and actions taken to support the building of a strong community involving all stakeholders is impressive. There is no doubt that high value is placed on ensuring authentic connections for the benefit of children and their parents who are relocating to a new environment to ensure that they are happy and fulfilled. There are 54 nationalities among the students, 24 languages taught in school and 40 nationalities among the staff.

International employers, global mobility professionals and talent managers can all perhaps learn from this approach to build flourishing organisations.

---

See the Winners Announced Page

The award was collected by Claudine Hakim, Head of Transitions Care and Student Support, International School of London.

---

Visit the International School of London (ISL) website

---

Watch the winner's voxpop interview

---

Watch the Award Ceremony video highlights

---

Read about award-winning global mobility, leadership and education in the upcoming Summer issue of Think Global People magazine, with the teams and organisations being celebrated in the Relocate Think Global People Awards 2025. Secure your copy here.

Have you heard about our Think Global People community?

---

Find out more about the Think Global People and Think Women community and events.

---

Subscribe to Relocate Extra, our monthly newsletter, to get all the latest international assignments and global mobility news.

Relocate’s new Global Mobility Toolkit provides free information, practical advice and support for HR, global mobility managers and global teams operating overseas.