Year 9 and 10 students at Catmose College were given the opportunity to participate in a German Exchange with Alfred-Amann-Gymnasium in Germany. Prior to the exchange, students were matched up with an exchange partner who we were encouraged to contact and begin to know before their visit. The students arrived on Monday 7 November and received a very warm welcome from all of the host families. We spent Tuesday and Wednesday in lessons together which gave our German exchange partners a wonderful immersive experience of an English school day. Students also participated in the Electives programme which was a fantastic experience for all. On Thursday, we travelled to Leicester where we visited the Richard III Museum. We were given a tour around the centre and listened to a talk about medieval weaponry. Students then walked through Leicester, with a quick stop and tour of the Guildhall before stopping at Highcross Shopping Centre. We were given some free time with our exchange partners, and we all had much fun sharing the afternoon together. On Friday, we visited the Black Country Living Museum where we spent the day learning about the Industrial Revolution and poverty in the Victorian Era. We were given the chance to play some traditional street games from the past which was really fun! We also watched a science show to demonstrate the dangers of gas in the mines which everyone found very interesting. We were given the day on Saturday to spend with our families and exchange partners which gave us the chance to show them some places in our local area such as Rutland Water and our Market towns. This experience gave us the invaluable opportunity to practice some German and connect with the language. Many fond memories were made by everyone, and some fantastic friendships were formed. We were sad to see the students leave but we look forward to our second leg of the exchange when we travel to Germany. Danke schön für diese Gelegenheit! Es war sehr toll! 

Eve, Year 10