UK-German Exchange Culture Project

In September 2023, we welcomed our first cohort of German pupils to Parrs Wood High School. This year’s collaborative project centred around work practices over time and how they had evolved in both countries.

In June 2024, Parrs Wood High School pupils went back to Germany for the return visit, a visit that included excursions to a Roman settlement in Xanten, a visit to the mining museum in Bochum, and to the DASA in Dortmund, a museum that featured interactive exhibits, where pupils experienced workshops on working practices over time. This culminated in a number of workshops and presentations based around their findings from their research.

Students enjoyed their time living with their host families, experiencing German school life, making friendships, and learning about German schools and workplaces. One student noted…

The German school was amazing, and the German headteacher was so nice.

Another added…

Staying with a host family was the best part of the whole project. We got to experience daily life in Germany and made friends for life.

The exchange enriched our students’ lives and laid a foundation for ongoing international collaboration between the two schools. The British-German Association praised Parrs Wood High School for progressing from virtual to in-person exchanges in their most recent newsletter. As the school expands its cultural curriculum, it looks forward to future partnerships with the Otto-Hahn-Gymnasium, fostering a deeper understanding of others.