Harris Church of England Academy welcomed a group of students from Gymnasium Carolinum in Osnabrück, Germany, on Wednesday 7 October as part of a special day of cultural exchange and international collaboration.

The visit provided the German students with the opportunity to experience British school life, meet students and staff, and develop friendships with their Harris partners.

The day began with a warm welcome from Headteacher Mrs Harrison and Deputy Headteacher Mr Peirce, who were delighted to meet the visiting students and hear about their school in Osnabrück before the students took part in a Q&A session where the German visitors were able to find out more about school life in the UK.They then enjoyed a tour of the school before meeting their Harris partners.

One of the highlights of the visit was the opportunity for the students from Gymnasium Carolinum to experience lessons alongside Harris pupils. They joined a Year 10 Science lesson and a Year 11 Religious Studies lesson, gaining an insight
into the British classroom environment and discovering some of the similarities and differences between education in Germany and the UK.

The cultural exchange continued over lunchtime, when the German students spent time with their partners and had the opportunity to chat and get to know one another. In the afternoon, the group took part in a netball session with Year 10 students, providing another opportunity for students from both schools to work together, communicate and have fun.
The visit was a fantastic opportunity for students to develop their confidence in communicating across languages and cultures, while gaining a greater understanding of everyday life and education in another country. For Harris students,
it also provided an authentic opportunity to use their German and put their language skills into practice outside the classroom.

The day ended with a farewell, with the German students leaving with new friendships, wonderful memories and hopefully the beginnings of a lasting international partnership between Gymnasium Carolinum and Harris Church of England Academy.

Mrs Anstruther, who organised the visit, said:

“It was wonderful to welcome the students from Gymnasium Carolinum to Harris. They embraced every part of the day with such enthusiasm and curiosity, and it was fantastic to see them building friendships, communicating across languages and
enjoying the experience together. We hope this is the beginning of a long-lasting partnership between our two schools, with many more opportunities for our students to learn from and visit one another in the future. A huge thank you to all the students and staff at Harris Church of England Academy who helped to make the visit such a warm, welcoming and memorable experience. We look forward to continuing to build our links with Gymnasium Carolinum in Osnabrück and creating many more opportunities for international collaboration in the years ahead.“