Sixth formers from an Oxford secondary school will be spending 16 days in Finland and Estonia as part of a government study abroad scheme.
Thirty-two students from The Cherwell School in North Oxford will be on next month’s trip, which has been made possible by funding from the Turing Scheme.
The Cherwell students will partner with schools in the Estonian capital Tallinn, Finland’s capital Helsinki and the Lapland city of Rovaniemi to learn about sustainability and culture.
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The Turing Scheme is a UK government-funded programme that allows school and university students to study and work abroad. It has replaced the Erasmus scheme, which the UK left after its departure from the European Union.
The scheme seeks to give young people opportunities to develop new skills, gain travel experience and boost their employability. It is aimed at people who might otherwise not get the chance to travel.
Cherwell School academic enrichment coordinator and English teacher, Charlotte Richer, said: “We know that learning outside the classroom can empower students and unlock their potential.
“We are excited that this trip will inspire new interests, forge new connections and give students the impetus, belief and investment they need to thrive in their A-level studies too.”
Molly Ndungu, 16, is one of The Cherwell students making the trip.
She said: “I haven’t left the UK before so I’m looking forward to simply being exposed to a new and different culture, meeting Finnish students, connecting with new landscapes and travelling by so many modes of transport. I won’t take a moment for granted.”
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Fellow student Kaiden Tummings, 16, said: “I’ve never stayed away from home for long, so I hope this trip will show me that I can push myself to do new challenges.”
Timon Riemenschneider, also 16, said: “This feels like something from the movies! It’s a whole new experience, a whole new lifestyle and I cannot wait to see what I’ll learn about myself from the trip.”
Ahead of the trip, the 32 students travelled to London to meet the Finnish Ambassador to the UK, Jukka Siukosaari.
The students took the opportunity to question the ambassador on the pressing issues of the day - national responses to the Covid pandemic and Finland’s view on the conflict in Ukraine.
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The Turing Scheme grant covers travel, accommodation and basic cost of living, but it does not include activities. In order to give students unforgettable experiences such as lake swimming, aurorae hunting and sampling traditional local, trip organisers are seeking donations from individuals and businesses. To donate contact Charlotte Richer at cricher@cherwellschool.org.
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