International Links
International links provide amazing opportunities for our students to appreciate different cultures, traditions, and languages, and to foster valuable collaborative learning experiences that hugely benefit their wider education. They enable students to make new friends, experience everyday life in other countries and to exchange ideas and understanding in our interconnected world.
European Links
St Bartholomew’s School has traditionally had close links with three different schools in France, Germany and Spain.
St Bart’s is linked with the Otto-Hahn-Gymnasium in Monheim, Germany. The annual student exchange with Otto-Hahn-Gymnasium returned in 2023, following a two year break due to the pandemic. Over 20 of our German students in Years 9-12 spent a week in Monheim, staying with their German exchange partner and family. This is a tremendous opportunity for our students to put to the test their German skills and to experience German culture first-hand. Students go on sightseeing trips as well as spend a day at the German school.
St Bart’s also has had past links with schools in France and Spain, which include St-Joseph in Mirabel, near Lyon, and Scola Elisabeth in Salou, near Barcelona. We are currently looking to build new connections in France and Spain which will offer future opportunities that best fit our students at St. Bart’s.
In 2024, St Bart’s is running a residential trip to Jaen in the south of Spain. As part of the trip, we will partner with students from local schools to attend lessons and take part in evening social activities, giving our students plenty of opportunities to put their language skills to good use.
We also have an exciting opportunity for our French A Level students to attend the Little Language School near Limoges where students will have a bespoke programme of cultural and classroom-based activities to enhance the language skills needed for French A Level.
China Links
In the past, St Bart’s has run visits to and from schools in Beijing, Jining, Shanghai and Qingdao. The main link is with Qingdao Number 2 Middle School in Shandong Province. This is a high-achieving school on the coast between Beijing and Shanghai.
Cultural opportunities for students also include workshops on traditional Chinese Opera and musical instruments, Chinese New Year Parties and trips to a local Chinese restaurant to try out the cuisine.
Kenya Links
St Bart’s is part of an international secondary school partnership link, working with the Ulafu Secondary school in Kenya. Miss Ostinelli and a committee of students from across different year groups are working with Ulafu Secondary school on a joint project which focuses on the Sustainable Development Goals; Zero Hunger, Gender Equality and Sustainable Cities and Communities.
St Bart’s has already delivered laptops to the students at Ulafu Secondary School from St Bart’s and the committee are now focused on the establishment of a school kitchen garden and gender equality forums.
