Staff and students were delighted to host four guests from Reunion Island this week who were here on a European-funded research visit to observe the delivery of secondary education in a different context to their own. They managed to observe lessons/part-lessons in History, Geography, PE, Art, MFL and English, and also spent some time in the Sanctuary.

As is always the case when we have visitors, they commented on the welcome they received and were thankful for the time and effort from all of the staff they met.

Reunion Island is a department of France in the Indian Ocean and you would be forgiven for thinking it is as idyllic as its setting. However, they struggle with many of the issues faced by schools everywhere such as poor attendance, disengagement and disaffection. They also face their fair share of challenging behaviour and were very interested in how we record and respond to students' SSA grades after every lesson.

They were very complimentary about the excellent organisation, consistency and systems that are evident at Blacon High School, the low levels of noise in comparison to what they are used to, and the excellent appearance and behaviour displayed by all of our students. All of the students they spoke to were very polite, welcoming and more than happy to explain the work they were completing and why.

Our colleagues from Reunion Island left with lots of new ideas and strategies to employ when they return to their own school. This was another successful visit that further enhances our current foreign links that will help to raise the profile of our school on an international platform.