A DOUBLE celebration is under way at Hawkshead Esthwaite Primary after the school scooped two national awards for embracing other cultures.

The 54-pupil school is one of just 49 in the country to receive the Geographical Association’s silver award in recognition of its high standards in the subject.

In the same week it was also awarded the International School Award by the British Council for the second time for “bringing the world into the classroom”.

Head teacher Joyce Hallam told the Westmorland Gazette: “We feel an international dimension to the curriculum is an essential part of 21st century schooling and are delighted to receive the award again.”

For the geography prize the school had to prove it helped young people gain an understanding of an increasingly inter-dependent world and its projects studying communities locally and further afield were praised by the association.

Its International School Award was maintained for its links with a school in Africa and its growing relationship with schools in Poland the Czech Republic.