Background

This project grew out of the Staffs. L.E.A. / Limousin Twinning Agreement which was established in 1988 and reaffirmed in 2003. 

 The first visit was in 1990 and they have continued since then without a break.  The 2004 visit was thus the 14th trip.  The prime movers who worked to develop the project were Mrs. Jean Burley from Rising Brook/Chetwynd Centre, Mrs. Noreen Wyatt from De Ferrers and Mrs. Carmen D'Arcy who was then at Weston Road/Chetwynd Centre.  Once there was involvement at the Chetwynd Centre, Mr. Roland Lemon, from Stafford College, accompanied a number of visits.

The project grew during the co-ordination of post 16 language teaching at the Chetwynd Centre in Stafford and it has survived through the transition of such teaching into the High Schools and, subsequently, back into the Chetwynd Centre where students from Stafford College are included.  Also involved from the beginning were De Ferrers, Burton-on-Trent and soon after, Wolgarston, Penkridge.  Those who have joined more recently include; Alleynes, Stone, Blessed William Howard, Stafford, Cardinal Griffin, Cannock and Walton, Stafford.  2003 saw the inclusion of The Friary, Lichfield and John Taylor, Barton-under-Needwood while in 2004, the group welcomed Thomas Alleynes, Uttoxeter.  The average number of students placed each year has been around 50 with 5 members of staff drawn from the participating schools.  However, in 2004, there were 58 students and 6 staff. In 2005 there were 59 students and 7 staff.

Benefits

• The experience provides concrete material for 'A' level course work;
• develops the functional aspect of language as tool to develop experience;
• challenges and develops social as well as linguistic skills;
• gives a European dimension to potential career development;
• gives a first class example of work based learning and,
• in university applications, is evidence of a potentially wider outlook.

Placements

Placements include;

• primary schools
• regional government offices
• local newspaper
• high schools
• forestry protection office
• hotels
• architect's studio
• tourist information office
• banks
• speech therapy dept
• adult training centre
• department stores
• university library
• lawyer's office
• museum
• pottery factory
• biology laboratory
• theatres
• local radio station
• pharmaceutical company
• LEA offices
• multi-media library
• sports federation
• music academy