German Exchange 2026: A Week of Cultural Discovery in Vaihingen-Enz

The Journey Begins

An early 4.30am start at the school gates saw Frau Caswell, Frau Dickinson and 14 excited students ready for the coach to Heathrow. Despite the early hour, everyone arrived on time.

Pre-departure checklist:

• Passports? ✓
• GHIC cards? ✓
• Mobile phones? One missing – quickly collected from home!

After a lengthy check-in at Heathrow (handheld fans proved to be the best investment for the hot weather ahead!), we enjoyed a smooth flight to Stuttgart. Passport procedures at Stuttgart airport were extensive, with lots of fingerprinting required.

Our friends from the Stromberg Gymnasium (affectionately known as ‘Stromi’) greeted us warmly as we exited through the glass doors. We were then whisked away to the S-Bahn for our first taste of German public transport – something we would use frequently throughout the week.

At Vaihingen-Enz Bahnhof, lots of familiar smiling faces awaited as students were reunited with their exchange partners and met their host parents for the first time. After some understandable nerves, students departed for their first taste of German family life.

Tuesday: First Day at Stromberg Gymnasium

School starts at 7.30am in Germany – quite a difference from St John’s! Our students quickly noticed several key differences:

• No uniform – students wear their own clothes
• Classroom organisation – classes stay in their tutor groups in one classroom, and teachers come to them
• Travel to school – hardly any pupils arrive by car; bicycles and public transport are the norm

The headteacher greeted us warmly and emphasised how important the exchange is for the school. She echoed our feelings that it is essential for students to learn about each other’s cultures whilst also recognising the similarities between our two nations.

Our students attended lessons with their partners in a relaxed atmosphere. Due to the heat, some students worked outside their classrooms, but remained focused on their tasks. Our students were used for conversation practice in English lessons, which the German students really enjoyed. Frau Dickinson was invited to a Year 11 class to discuss themes such as the Windrush scandal and the role of the UK in the Commonwealth. The students’ English was excellent.

Wednesday: Exploring Vaihingen-Enz

As the temperature continued to rise, we made our way into the pretty town of Vaihingen-Enz to follow a town trail, with sweet treats for the winning team. We explored the beautiful market square with its fountain and timbered Rathaus (town hall) and houses.

We heard that St John’s was closed due to the heat. In Vaihingen, where it was at least 5 degrees hotter, school continued as normal!

Thursday: Trip to the Mercedes-Benz Museum

We visited the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. The iconic, modern building houses the history of Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz, showcasing cars through the ages from the invention of the combustion engine to the present day. The exhibition runs in parallel with world history, with information displayed as you descend from the top to bottom floor. Some students tested their speed at a racing car pit stop.

We then wandered past Stuttgart Football Club’s training grounds and stadium before returning to the town centre for shopping and ice creams, trying to find cool spots to escape the heat.

Friday: Final Day and Family Time

Friday was a slightly shorter day in school, after which students spent the remaining time of the exchange with their host families.

Host Family Experiences

Throughout the week, our students were treated to wonderful experiences by their kind and generous host families:

• Visits to sweet factories
• Theme parks (including Tripsdrill)
• Trips to the beautiful Black Forest
• Lake Constance (Bodensee)
• Canoeing and paddleboarding
• A trip to Munich to see the sights
• Visits to local Freibäder (outdoor pools) to cool off in the sweltering heat

Farewell

Too soon, it was time to make our way back to England. It was sad to say goodbye. Friendships have been made, a new culture has been experienced and embraced. Let’s hope it’s not goodbye, but just Auf Wiedersehen!

What our Students Said:

“Being in Germany for the past week on the exchange has been amazing. I have really loved immersing myself in the culture and seeing how things are different to England, especially in schools. It’s been so cool making new friends and experiencing everything first-hand, creating memories that I will never forget. I would definitely recommend it to anyone thinking of going next year!”

“I found it really interesting to see how schools in Germany differ from ours. My German exchange family was really nice and the food was delicious. I loved the different activities every day, such as Tripsdrill theme park and the lake where I did paddleboarding. I have also noticed great progress in my understanding of German. I would definitely go back and do the exchange again.”

“I enjoyed the activities we did as well as the excellent public transport system. There were rivers and pools to swim in and sports to explore. The people were very welcoming and open to helping with language barriers. I aim to keep in touch with my partner and maybe visit him this summer.”

“It was a great experience that I was glad to be part of. I also met wonderful people and ate food that I hadn’t tried before. I would recommend it to people who would like to have an adventure.”

“If you want a great time, do an exchange!”

“I loved going to Germany. It was really beautiful, and the food was amazing. I tried cinnamon ice cream and went to the sweet museum. I would do the German exchange again.”