Keio Shonan Fujisawa Senior High School is attached to the world-famous Keio University and is a co-educational secondary school. They have generously funded a scholarship programme between Stephen Perse and the Keio Shonan Fujisawa Jr & Sr High School since 2008. This year Stephen Perse shares the funding of four scholarships on both sides of the world.

Exchanges are an amazing opportunity to get to know about other young people and their lives in other countries and cultures. They are not only for improving linguistic skills and passing exams. An international exchange is a great opportunity to find common values as well as broadening horizons. We are all fully aware of the dominance of English globally and how often English becomes the main vessel of communication, however international exchanges are a chance to develop understanding for others which leads to stronger connections and helps our young people to grow internationally. Life-long friendships have been forged through the exchanges offered at Stephen Perse and we hope that this will continue.

This year’s scholarship places were awarded to the following Year 10 and Year 12 students who have been attending for several years Mrs Browning’s after-school Japanese course: Isha, Ava, Manuela and Lola.

They hosted their partners for 14 days at the end of January and the beginning of February. At the time of publication of this newsletter, they will be visiting their partners in Keio.

During the visit to the UK, the Japanese scholars were treated to a full schedule of life in the UK, school lessons at Stephen Perse, excursions as a group and excursions with their host families. We are particularly thankful to all the host families who ensured the students had a fabulous time.

The packed UK programme included sight-seeing around Cambridge and London, the very traditional afternoon tea, not so traditional bowling and burgers alongside a spellbinding evensong in King’s College Chapel.