Jet-Setting Pupils Can't Wait For Their Exchange Visit To Sweden

Jet-setting pupils are about to take part in the second year of a Swedish exchange project.

The youngsters, year 12 International Baccalaureate (IB) students from Tollbar Business and Enterprise College, will head over to stay with their counterparts at Aranasgymnasiet School in Kungsbacka, close to Gothenburg, this June.

Teacher Jenny Woods said a visit to Sweden last year proved interesting for the students as many had never been out of the country, or stayed away from their parents before. 'IB really does bring a greater maturity to students and this exchange gives them more life experience,' she said.

'The students each stay with another IB student in their own homes so they have to adapt to that, and for some of them it will be the first time they have been away from home for any real length of time. 'It may push them out of their comfort zones because they have to force themselves to interact with people they do not know very well, but last year's students said they really enjoyed the challenge.'

Student Patrick Bell, 17, said the International Baccalaureate was challenging, but worth the effort. 'It does make you grow up faster, but that is not a bad thing,' he said. 'We are all looking forward to going to Sweden and seeing what we have to look forward to on the rest of our course.'

Article from The Grimsby Telegraph - Friday May 28th 2010