This year, students from Cheltenham Ladies’ College enjoyed a memorable exchange trip to the Maria-Ward-Schule in Mainz. Welcomed warmly by host families, we had the opportunity to experience life in Germany first-hand, embracing both the cultural and linguistic richness of the exchange.
During the week, we explored the German school system, attending lessons and engaging with local students. Three of our Sixth Formers also gained valuable insights through work experience: one at the Eisgrubschule, another in the Maria-Ward-Schule Music Department, and a third at Sparkasse, a local bank. These opportunities allowed students to step outside their comfort zones and develop confidence in speaking German in real-world contexts.
The trip was not only about work and school, it was also filled with cultural discovery and festive cheer. We immersed ourselves in the magic of the pre-Christmas atmosphere, with highlights including visits to the enchanting Christmas markets, ice skating fun, and a tour of the famous Gutenberg Museum. Of course, trying new foods, from pretzels to bratwurst, added to the adventure!
New friendships were forged, and laughter echoed through the week. Whether practicing language skills or simply enjoying time together, every student gained a deeper cultural awareness and appreciation for German traditions.
This exchange reminded us of the value of connecting with others across cultures. A huge thank you to the host families, Maria-Ward-Schule, and everyone who made this trip such an unforgettable experience!
Mrs Salge-Dexter, Teacher of German (i/c) and French
We'd like to set cookies to understand how you use this site. We use services such as YouTube, Flockler and Hireroad that may also use third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our Cookies Policy.
We use these for core functionality, such as storing this cookie consent preference. These are loaded automatically and cannot be disabled by the user.
We use Google Analytics to track visits to our website and how users interact with our website. This helps us improve the way our website works.
We use Google Ads Conversions & Facebook Pixel to measure how you use and interact with our website and with our advertisements.
These cookies may be set by third party websites and do things like measure how you view videos or other content that is embedded on our site.
