Ceciliengymnasium Bielefeld

From 19th September to 10th October 2010 I was in Ipswich/England to visit our partner school. During my stay I lived in a friendly host family. My lessons took place in two schools, the Chantry High School and the senior centre Suffolk One.

The Chantry High School – A Specialist Humanities College - is a school that can be compared to a German comprehensive school and covers years 7 – 11. The students are being prepared for their A-levels, so I was allowed to visit year 11. The teachers and students spent a long time with me, so I could quickly establish contact and even some friendships. Now I still regularly communicate with a few classmates (via facebook or e-mail).

The second school I went to in my last week in England was the brand new Suffolk One. It was newly established in summer 2010. This school is intended for high school students in Ipswich and the surrounding area who have passed their O-levels and want to do their A-levels. Both schools were a complete new experience for me, because of the different forms of learning and the learning atmosphere.

During my stay I got to know some aspects of the English educational system. The English students often learn in groups, treat every student very friendly and the teachers usually explain precisely and more often. Other differences are the teaching times: The first lesson starts at 9 in the morning and ends at 3:15 in the afternoon. In between there are two breaks with a 30-minute lunch break. One lesson takes 120 minutes. The school day at Suffolk One goes from nine to four (without workshops or clubs).

My host family took me on trips to Felixstowe, Cambridge, Ipswich Town and London, all of which was great.

The reason why I visited Ipswich and the Chantry High School is the partnership between Ceci and the CHS. A group of students from Ipswich came to Bielefeld on a short trip and I hope that a regular exchange between German and British students can be set up soon. I can recommend a stay abroad to everybody, because you gain a lot of experience, you meet new people and you improve your English.

German