Exeter School’s international links came to life this summer as Mrs Wilson spent a week in Germany, visiting schools, sharing British culture and strengthening partnerships with pupils and teachers.
The visit also reflects the strength of Modern Foreign Languages in Exeter School’s Senior School Subjects, where pupils are encouraged to develop not only their language skills but also a genuine understanding of different cultures. Experiences such as this help enrich classroom learning, providing authentic insights that benefit pupils studying German and inspire a lifelong appreciation of languages.
From supporting project-based learning to meeting the German pupils who have been exchanging letters with Lower Two P, the visit offered valuable insights into education in Germany while creating memorable experiences for everyone involved.
Throughout the week, Mrs Wilson visited a range of schools, explored local traditions and gathered ideas to bring back to Exeter School’s MFL classrooms. Here is a look back at her journey.
Day 1: A Warm Welcome in Oldenburg
Mrs Wilson arrived in Germany and began her visit with a tour of the school that was hosting her during its annual Project Week.
This year’s theme was England, giving Mrs Wilson the perfect opportunity to support pupils with their activities and answer their many questions about British life and culture during an interview session.
With temperatures soaring, the school day finished early. Afterwards, Mrs Wilson experienced a traditional Kneippbad, walking through cool water to improve circulation—a refreshing way to end a very hot first day.
Day 2: Circus Skills and New Friendships
The second day began with an exciting visit to a circus school, where pupils took part in a variety of creative and physical activities.
One of the highlights was meeting the class that Lower Two P has been writing to throughout the year. Seeing the pen-pal partnership come to life was a wonderful moment and reinforced the value of building international friendships.
Later, Mrs Wilson enjoyed a guided tour of Oldenburg before joining local excitement for an international football match between Germany and Ecuador.
Day 3: Bringing England to Life
Project Week continued with pupils exploring British traditions in a hands-on way.
One particularly delicious activity saw the children baking homemade scones as part of their England-themed project. The enthusiasm and curiosity shown by the pupils demonstrated how enjoyable cultural learning can be.
Day 4: Exploring German Secondary Education
Mrs Wilson visited the open day at Liebfrauenschule, a Catholic Gymnasium, where academically focused senior pupils continue their education.
The visit provided an excellent opportunity to learn more about the German education system and observe how pupils prepare for the next stage of their academic journey.
In the evening, Mrs Wilson attended a school leavers’ celebration, experiencing another important milestone in German school life and gaining further insight into local traditions and community spirit.
Day 5: Discovering the Frisian Islands
Learning extended beyond the classroom as Mrs Wilson travelled by catamaran to Norderney, one of the beautiful Frisian Islands in the North Sea.
She also experienced a traditional Strandkorb—the iconic German beach basket. While these are often used to shelter from the coastal wind, this time they provided welcome shade from the summer sunshine.
Day 6: Meeting Our Pen Pals
One of the most meaningful moments of the visit came when Mrs Wilson spent time with the class that has been corresponding with Lower Two P.
She presented the pupils with letters and Exeter School pencils from their pen pals, and the gifts were received with great excitement. Meeting face to face helped strengthen the connection between both schools and brought months of letter writing to life.
Day 7: Looking Ahead
On her final full day, Mrs Wilson visited the Berufsschule in Oldenburg Wechloy, where students combine academic study with practical work experience.
She also recorded interviews with students to share with Exeter School’s German A Level pupils, providing them with authentic insights into life and education in Germany.
As she prepared to return home, Mrs Wilson left with new ideas, stronger international friendships and plenty of inspiration to share back in Exeter.
