6 students from Kirkcudbright Academy recently joined up with 6 students from Kverhuset Secondary in Fredrikstad, Norway, to take part in an exchange program between the two schools. This has been a longstanding link of 8 years where the group of students visit each school, and country.
This exchange has proven to be a popular venture between the students from the schools, where a number of S3 students have the opportunity to experience a different educational experience and culture which is fully funded by the school. Students are hosted by the families of the students from the visiting country and are accompanied by two members of staff from their base school. This year at Kirkcudbright Academy we had 16 S3 students applying to become involved in the exchange, with the final 6 chosen randomly.
As well as the educational and cultural experiences, this year, the two schools were looking to develop a project based focus to the visit with the students ask to investigate the topic of Renewable Energies, and the differing approaches between the two countries.
While in Scotland the students were invited for the day to visit Natural Power’s Global Headquarters, The Greenhouse, near Dalry. They were treated to a tour of the facility along with presentations on the role of Natural Power along with an insight into Renewable Energy Generation (along with freebies to take home). While up at the Greenhouse the students were then take to the Blackcraig Windfarm to see an industrial scale wind generation system. When in Norway the students made a visit to a local Biomass Plant and Water Recycling facility.
As part of the educational and cultural experience for the students, visits were arrange to the two capital cities, Edinburgh and Oslo, as well as various other activities.
Kirkcudbright Academy would like to thank all those who made the experience of all the students enjoyable and educational during what is thought of as an excellent opportunity for our young students.
A special thank you to the following:
Local Rotary Organisation both in Kirkcudbright and Fredrikstad.
Ralph at Natural Power for organising an excellent visit and securing funding to allow the exchange to take place.
Hollywood Trust for supporting the exchange.
Developing Young Workforce for financial assistance.
The students involved who made the whole exchange such a success.
