Seventeen students and three of the teachers of Alton College, in Alton, Hampshire, United Kingdom, recently had the privilege of indulging in a couple of whistle-stop school visits to China, which, while quick, proved memorable.
During their seven-day stay, the pupils were able to get a good grasp on the lives of Chinese boys and girls their own age, as they enjoyed classes at a local sixth-form school and indulged in a fair bit of tourism. All in all, the students were able to visit Beijing, Xinghua, Suzhou and Shanghai. They were able to see all the mandatory sights at each of the locations, such as the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Temple Of Heaven, Olympic Park (all in Beijing), the Lingering Gardens and Tiger Hill at Suzhou. The group was also privy to a musical concert, which saw members of both institutions perform together in a selection of jazz and big-band pieces.
The exchange, which was carried out on a home-stay basis where the pupils lodged with Chinese families, will be reciprocated next year, when students from Xinghua High School will travel to England to lodge with some of the British students’ families at the quiet East Hampshire village of Alton. The school was also visited by a representative of the Chinese school, who appraised the facilities at Alton College and met with its Board of Directors. The dignitary was impressed, stating that he would be encouraging students from his own school to participate in the English experience.
The exchange to China was only one of several Alton College students could opt for, with some of the other members of the Hampshire sixth-form college choosing to go skiing in Switzerland, take a photographic tour of Morocco or explore the New York art scene. The common thread binding all these youngsters is the overwhelmingly positive feedback they gave of their experiences.
Alton College centres on education in the Arts, offering courses in theatre, dance and other artistic disciplines. However, students from this Hampshire institution also regularly have the chance to profit from opportunities for Public Services training.
About School Travel Service:
School Travel Service is the UK’s largest educational travel company, providing school trips for secondary schools and colleges. Find them at http://www.equityschooltravel.co.uk/
For Media Contact:
School Travel Service
One Jubilee Street
Brighton
East Sussex
BN1 1GE
+44 (0)1273 645 862
[email protected]