News Year 10 students visit their exchange partners at the Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums in Hamburg 24.04.2025

During the Easter holidays, nine Year 10 German students travelled to Hamburg together with pupils from Latymer Upper School, to visit their exchange partners at the Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums — our wonderful partner school in this beautiful and historic city.

They had the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in everyday life with their host families and experience the German school system firsthand. Comparing cultural and educational differences with life in London and at Godolphin proved both eye-opening and enriching. Students embraced every chance to develop their language skills, engage with local culture, and show resilience in unfamiliar settings — something no IGCSE textbook can truly replicate.

Each day brought exciting excursions to some of Hamburg’s most iconic sites. Highlights included a visit to the Rathaus (town hall), where they explored the city’s role in the Hanseatic League; ‘der Grüne Bunker’, a WWII anti-aircraft bunker; and a walking tour of the Karolinenviertel, offering insights into Hamburg’s vibrant graffiti and street art scene.

Evenings and the weekend were spent with host families, who introduced the students to local favourites such as Miniatur Wunderland — home to the world’s largest model railway — and the ‘Dom’, a funfair reminiscent of our own Winter Wonderland. Activities like paddleboarding and baking added to the fun and helped deepen bonds between the exchange partners.

The students had a fantastic time, and the German department is already looking forward to the next exchange!