Year 13 Go On The German Exchange

At Burntwood School, we are proud to hold the International School Award which celebrates our efforts to foster a global perspective through our teaching and learning, and incorporate international themes and partnerships across our curriculum. This is further exhibited by our German Exchange programme, in which Sixth Form students have the opportunity to partner with a German student, hosting and visiting them in London and Germany.

Leah and Eddie tell us about their experience:

The German Exchange programme has been one of the best experiences I have had while at Burntwood. When I tell people that I have been participating in the exchange, the first question they ask is “Do you speak German?” and the answer is no! Whilst our German exchange partners utilised the opportunity to practice their English, which they’ve been learning since a young age, for us, the programme was a cultural exchange: the opportunity to learn about life, school and culture in Germany. Taking part in the programme felt like a risk, but I’m so glad I did it as I had some of the best days ever on the trip – both here, and in Germany. We were lucky to host our visitors first so that we met them in a familiar environment and, when we visited them last week, already knew them which made the trip so much more enjoyable.

Whilst in London, we took our exchange partners on a tour of some of the key sites and whilst in Germany, we visited their nearest city of Munich. We spent a day in their school and even though we understood very little (try doing an Italian lesson in German!), it was a great experience to see the different in how they learn to our school.

I had some anxieties about taking part in the programme as a student who lives with a disability, but I was made to feel so welcome by my exchange partner, their family and their school. I learnt that Germany is one of the most access-friendly countries I’ve ever been to, and this helped to broaden my global perspectives. I’m so glad I took part in it, and would recommend it to anyone looking to try something new. I feel really glad to be given and encouraged to take up these opportunities at Burntwood.