Earlier this year, Sixth Form students Mark (SFM3), Theodore (SFM1), Tom (SFJ3), Frederick (SFJ1), Alexander (SFJ3), Ruby (L6 HR), Sophie (L6 MO) and Arina (L6 CS) had the pleasure of hosting their German peers in London for the highly anticipated Work Experience Exchange Programme. This marked the 21st year of this initiative, which pairs Habs students with German peers for a unique cultural and professional exchange.
The London leg
The Germany exchange students worked at renowned institutions such as Harrow Crown Court, The House of Commons, Covington & Burlington LLP, Iwoca (a fintech firm), and Burrel Foley Fischer (an architecture firm).
During their stay, the exchange students toured Habs, attended lessons, met with Mr Sykes, and enjoyed a social event involving students from both schools. Pictured to the right of Mr Sykes is Mr Hüttermann, who has run the exchange for 21 years. Mr Hüttermann also worked as a German Assistant at Habs in the 1990s!
The German leg
For the return leg of the programme, nine Year 12 students travelled to Düsseldorf, Germany. Habs students were placed in a variety of professional environments that matched their interests, ranging from the city archives, property investment, credit management and even the local Magistrate’s Court. Their employers unanimously gave outstanding feedback, praising the students for their engagement, proficiency in the German language, and eagerness to learn.
A standout moment of the exchange was Mark’s (SFM3) placement at Bernecker, a financial journalism company, where he wrote an article in German on the topic, ‘The Effects of Tariffs on the Relationship Between the Dollar and the Euro’. This article was later published, showcasing Mark’s initiative and skills in both the workplace and the German language.
Outside of their work placements, the students embraced the cultural aspect of the exchange. They spent a day exploring Cologne, Germany’s fourth-largest city, under sunny skies. A guided tour of the old town was followed by an exciting “Stadtrallye” experience, where the students worked together with their exchange partners to solve clues and complete challenges around the city, further strengthening their teamwork and problem-solving skills.
On their final day, they visited Mataré Gymnasium, Habs’ partner school in Düsseldorf, where students attended lessons alongside their exchange partners. This unique opportunity allowed the students to immerse themselves in the German education system and connect with their peers in an academic setting.
The Habs’ students were sad to leave Germany and their exchange partners, and many plan to meet up again in the future. By living in host families, as well as working in a German-speaking environment throughout the week, the students improved their language skills, self-confidence and understanding of German culture. They returned home feeling more than ever like global citizens. We are proud of how professionally our students conducted themselves throughout and they have demonstrated our school value of community.
The success of the programme would not have been possible without the invaluable support of Mr Walters, Mr Ahmet and Ms Webber, who accompanied the students on their trip and ensured everything ran smoothly.
The Work Experience Exchange Programme continues to provide Habs students with invaluable opportunities to develop their skills, enhance their understanding of the world, and build a lasting international community.
Related posts
See all posts
