Patchway recently hosted a group of eight students and teachers from Realschule Gauting in our twin town of Gauting, Germany for a week of work experience, local visits and events with young people of the town.
The group arrived on Sunday 12th May and were collected from Bristol Parkway station before a welcome buffet at Snack Attacks where their hosts for the week were introduced with a round up of the weeks programme.
On Monday, the students set off to undertake work experience at Callicroft Primary Academy, Coniston Primary School and Patchway Community School with an aim to understand the UK education system and share their experiences of living and learning in Germany with their British student audience. The students spent four days at their schools with a varied programme put on by each school which has helped to build strong future relationships.
On Monday evening, the group headed to the 3G Facility at Norman Scott Park for an evening of football and sport with a group of young people from Patchway Youth Centre supported by FACE Charity. After a few shy moments at the start, all the young people threw themselves into a cracking game of football which ended with an estimated 24-20 to Patchway. They then enjoyed a special burger meal at Snack Attacks to close off the day.
Tuesday evening saw the group head to Patchway Youth Centre to make and share food with the young people there with the Mayor of Patchway Cllr Dayley Lawrence dropping in to say hello to our visitors. The group then headed off with their hosts to see Bristol city centre.
On Wednesday all the students headed to Patchway Community School in the afternoon for a tour of the school, to meet the PCS students heading to Gauting in June, and for a highly competitive dodgeball match. This time it was Gauting who took home the spoils at 2-1. The hosts then took the group to Weston-super-Mare for a look at the great British seaside!
After their last day at their schools, the group headed to Mulligans at Cribbs Causeway for crazy golf and other fun games with their hosts before heading back to pack for the journey home first thing on Friday morning.
The week has demonstrated the importance of international relationships, and specifically how our young people are key to international understanding. The week also showed how easily and simply the young people are able to embrace these opportunities.
Mayor of Patchway, Cllr Dayley Lawrence said, 'It is fantastic how this week has brought our two towns and countries closer together with a great programme, committed hosts and partners, and the proactive approach of all the young people involved. Well done all!’.
20th May 2024
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