Teachers Exchange Programme, Iitin Lukio School, Finland
Chloe Bagnall, West Kirby Grammar School

In March 2013, I went over to Finland for an exchange visit with two students from the sixth form. We flew into Helskini Airport and were greeted by Ari, the Headteacher of Iitin Lukio School. He drove us approximately an hour and a half out of the city to our homes for the next couple of days. I stayed with the music teacher, Suvi-Kirsi and her husband, Zeppo in Lahti and I very much enjoyed their company and hospitality. Iitin Lukio School is set in rural Finland in a small town called Kausala. The school was approximately 40 minutes from Lahti and on the first morning we drove through blizzard conditions and thick snow to get there. The Finns were very well prepared for these conditions and the minus temperatures didn’t seem to faze them, except that this year the winter was encroaching on spring.

Iitin Lukio School is much smaller than West Kirby Grammar and this gave it a close community feel. The staff and students were very friendly and there seemed to be a very positive and informal relationship between them. The students from West Kirby stayed with pupils from the exchange school and spent their time as school detectives, attending lessons and finding out about how the Finnish culture and how the schooling differed from the UK system.

During my visit, I observed a number of lessons across the curriculum including Geography, Biology, Food Technology and Media Studies. I found it particularly interesting to observe an English lesson in which I had the opportunity to talk to Finnish students about West Kirby Grammar School and other attractions in Merseyside. The smaller class numbers, shorter lessons and 15 minute breaks between each class appeared to have a positive impact on both pupils and teachers, who seemed more relaxed in their work. On one of the mornings, I went with a group of students to a farmers market in Kausala that specialised in selling local and organic produce. This was an interesting way to raise the children’s awareness of the importance of supporting local businesses.

During the evenings, I enjoyed a traditional Finnish sauna and also socialising with teachers from the school. One evening, we went to the local music hall in Lahti to see a production of Romeo and Juliet put on by the local orchestra and a group of students, which was a treat. On my last day, I had the opportunity to go to Helsinki with Ari and Marjut, the Geography teacher, where I was given a guided tour of the city during which, I learned a lot about the history and culture of Finland and Helsinki. We visited the Geography department in Helsinki University and the Natural History Museum. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit, and I am very grateful for the friendship and kindness shown to me by Suvi-Kirsi and Zeppo and all at Iitin Lukio School; I hope to visit them again soon