City of Norwich School, part of Ormiston Academies Trust, has brought global learning to life by hosting a vibrant week-long cultural exchange with Spanish students through The English Experience Integration Project.
The programme aims to connect overseas and British students through short, immersive visits that combine day-to-day school life with cultural outings.
From the moment they arrived, the visiting students were warmly welcomed by local host families and paired with CNS buddies who guided them through lessons and routines. The exchange gave the Spanish students an authentic, day-to-day experience of school life in the UK, while CNS students embraced the chance to practice their language skills and broadened their cultural understanding.
Beyond the classroom, the group enjoyed a packed programme of activities during the half-term break, visiting a number of Norfolk attractions and taking an exciting day trip to London to experience some of the country’s most iconic sights. They then returned to CNS for two final days filled with reflection and shared learning.
The exchange concluded with a joyful farewell celebration, where students swapped thank you cards, shared cakes and spoke about the friendships and memories they would take away from the experience. Two CNS students addressed the group to reflect on the connection and cultural understanding the exchange had inspired.
The programme marks an exciting milestone for CNS, strengthening international links and opening up meaningful opportunities for students to broaden their horizons and connect with the wider world.
Jo Philpott, Principal at City of Norwich School, said:
“This was the first time hosting a cultural exchange and it was a resounding success. Seeing our students support their visitors and reflect on their shared experiences underlines the positive impact cultural exchange programmes can have on our community.”
Lauren Higginson, Head of Teaching and Integration Project Coordinator at The English Experience Norwich, said:
“It was wonderful to see the students sharing their goodbyes at the farewell celebration; many of them had built genuine bonds with their buddies over the course of the project and their feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
“We are extremely grateful for the hard work and dedication that went into planning and delivering this project. We truly value our collaboration with schools like CNS and hope the partnership will continue in the future.”