German Exchange 2024
Bury Grammar School is proud to coordinate the School’s long-standing exchange, and this year marked the 69th Bury/Cologne Exchange.
This exchange is incredibly important to us as it offers a chance for pupils to gain insight into another culture, customs, and daily life, fostering appreciation for diversity and differences as well as presenting a wonderful opportunity for pupils to use their language skills in real-life settings, improving fluency, pronunciation, and confidence in speaking. These experiences often inspires a greater interest in language learning and presents a strong academic performance in language studies. It challenges pupils to navigate a new environment which in turn encourages self-reliance and adaptability, stretching development of interpersonal skills by interacting with peers and adults from different cultural backgrounds and by stepping out of their comfort zones boosts resilience and self-assurance.
On the evening of Thursday 7th November, after many months of planning, we welcomed our visitors from Cologne. For some of our pupils and students, this was a reunion as they stayed with families in Cologne last November – a testament to the strong friendships forged through the Exchange.
Our visitors enjoyed spending a day in lessons with their BGS partners, the traditional England vs Germany sports matches, going to Liverpool to the Beatles Story and to shop for souvenirs in Liverpool One, a guided tour of Manchester and baking and eating scones with jam and cream in Food Technology with Mrs Willis. This experience of a different education system, teaching styles, and subjects enriches students' understanding of both countries.
Over the weekend, host families showed our visitors the best of what the Northwest has to offer from visits to Blackpool Pleasure Beach and the Yorkshire Dales to the Trafford Centre.
Following a very busy and enjoyable few days hosting our guests from our partner school in Cologne, Gymnasium Deutz, we waved a rather tearful farewell from Bridge Road on Wednesday morning.
We are very grateful for the kindness and generous hospitality shown to the visitors by our host families. Lifelong friendships have developed because of our Exchange, which speaks volumes about the value of stepping into a different culture and country.
Mrs Taylor, Head of German said, ‘Even if you have never studied any German, an exchange experience is an invaluable addition to your time at BGS.’
Next year will be the 70th Anniversary of the Exchange and we will be travelling to Cologne around 4th-10th November 2025.
Exchanges can lead to future collaboration, whether in education, career, or travel. Experience abroad is a valuable addition to CVs, demonstrating adaptability, cultural awareness, and language skills. By fostering language skills, personal development, and intercultural competence, school exchanges create lasting benefits for students and communities, contributing to a more connected and empathetic global society, better preparing them for careers in an increasingly interconnected world.
Thank you to all involved.