Exchange Visits

German Exchange

We run a very successful exchange for year 10 and 11 students with the Gymnasium Gröbenzell, a grammar school located just outside Munich. It comprises a ten day visit here by the Germans in October, with our return visit in late March; in each case it is the week before a holiday, and students attend some lessons in their partners' schools. Our students learn a great deal about the culture and family and social life in Germany, and the experience gives a huge boost to their understanding and confidence, with the added dividend of improved GCSE results! Highlights of the varied programme include a flight on the London Eye and an outing to the Bavarian Alps, in which all participants take part.

Here are some quotes from last year's exchangers: 'useful for learning the language and lots of fun'; 'learnt loads of new stuff'; 'very enjoyable, would recommend it!'; 'exciting'; 'it was too short'; amazingly cool'.

In the last few years TWO of our students have been in the top five German GCSE results in the country!!

This exchange with St Patrick’s School in San Sebastian on the north coast of Spain was started in 2007 and is proving increasingly popular. It is a joint venture with Thornden School and last year 25 pupils went over to Spain – this year it is 30.

The Spanish come over here in April and so far we have been extremely lucky with the weather. We provide a variety of trips and excursions, including a joint trip to Beaulieu and the Spanish go to London, Winchester and the New Forest.

English pupils go back to Spain in June and are always amazed at how beautiful San Sebastian is. The town has three beaches and if the weather is good the pupils usually make the most of it by enjoying barbecues and beach games. They take part in a variety of trips – to the famous Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, across the border to France and an outing to the Lumbier Gorge National Park Centre in the region of Navarre.

Pupils come back more confident and far more aware of Spanish culture. They particularly appreciate the variety of tapas on offer and are usually very tired from the Spanish custom of eating late and staying up even later and eating late!!!

This venture only started in 2008. We have linked up with the College Albert Camus in La Rochelle on the west coast of France. This is a lively and attractive port and is near the Ile de Re, which has a huge variety of birdlife, and the brandy making town of Cognac.

Pupils from year 9 and 10 took part in the exchange this year and all benefited from the insight into French culture and food. The French came over in December and enjoyed trips to London, Salisbury and Stonehenge, Portsmouth and Winchester.

Our pupils went over to La Rochelle in April – they had a taste of Cognac brandy, they visited the islands opposite the port and took a trip to Brouage. They also visited a primary school connected to the College Albert Camus and taught some of the smaller children some English. They were provided with a wonderful meal in the school canteen and despite some initial reservations, appreciated the healthy variety of food the French pupils are offered every day at lunchtime.