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Dutch students enjoy taste of British education during two-day trip to Altrincham school

Loreto Grammar School hosted a delegation of bilingual Dutch students who were talking about their own educational experience and the differences between the British and Dutch systems at a special conference in Manchester.

Loreto Grammar School hosted a delegation of bilingual Dutch students who were talking about their own educational experience and the differences between the British and Dutch systems at a special conference in Manchester.

Eight teenagers – aged between 15 and 17 – from four colleges across the Netherlands were hosted by the Altrincham girls’ school before they spoke at the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust conference on bilingual education, organised by the European Platform.

Before giving their own take on school life, they spent two days at Loreto and were surprised by the differences.

Isabel Schoenmakers, 17, said: “It’s such a beautiful school especially the chapel, we simply don’t have anything like this in Netherlands.”

But Martje Slob, 15, commented on the different atmosphere and dress code: “It seems quite strict; everyone is wearing a uniform; my school is much more chilled out.”

Stefan Kint, 15, added: “When I was told I was going to England I thought I would need to buy a suit because we always think of the English wearing suits for business. In Holland we just wear blazers and tee shirts but in England you like uniforms in school and for business too.”

Helen Jordan, director of Loreto Grammar School’s Sixth Form, said: “A key part of our mission is to broaden our girls’ world view and encourage internationality and we were delighted to welcome these Dutch student ambassadors to share stories about growing up in both countries.”

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