Links strengthened through French exchange visit
Sleaford students have met up with French exchange counterparts from their twin town
Students at St George’s Academy enjoyed a memorable afternoon of international collaboration when they welcomed visitors from their partner school in Marquette‑Lez‑Lille, France.
A total of 55 French students, accompanied by their teacher Nora Bouguettaya, visited the Sleaford campus as part of a long‑standing penfriend exchange designed to foster language learning and cultural understanding. Students from both Ruskington and Sleaford had previously been exchanging letters with their French counterparts and were delighted to finally meet in person.
The afternoon was carefully structured to encourage communication and teamwork. Students took part in a campus‑wide treasure hunt, working in mixed French–English groups to solve clues presented in both languages. The activity provided an engaging and supportive environment for students to practise their language skills while building confidence and forming new friendships.
Following the treasure hunt, students gathered for a group photograph and enjoyed refreshments together, alongside a “getting to know you” quiz.
The event was supported by members of the Sleaford Twinning Committee, including Julie Howes and Sheila Wheeldon.
Charlotte Tilley, Head of Modern Foreign Languages at St George’s Academy, who organised the visit, said: “It was a fantastic afternoon. Our students gained so much from speaking directly with their penfriends and working together. Opportunities like this bring language learning to life and help build lasting international connections.”
The visit formed part of the school’s wider commitment to promoting modern foreign languages and global awareness. It was widely regarded as a great success, with students from both countries thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to learn from one another.