TEACHERS have been on a fact-finding trip to Australia to learn from their counterparts down under.
Ann Furniss assistant headteacher at Ferryhill Business and Enterprise College, led the trip, which also included Melanie Harbinson, Paul Simpson and Chris Leishman.
The purpose of the visit was to look at business and enterprise, citizenship and student leadership in another part of the world and for their own professional development. The trip was held to follow-up previous contacts made by headteacher Steve Gater's visit last summer term.
Schools visited in Melbourne were Nazareth College, a part fee-paying Catholic 11 to 18 school, Toorak College, an 11 to 18 fee-paying girls' school, Ballarine College, a state-funded 11 to 18 business and enterprise college and Box Hill Secondary, a 16 to 18 sports specialist college.
The teachers also took in Sydney Secondary College, an 11 to 18 three-campus school.
Mrs Furniss said: "Australian schools place a great emphasis on student leadership. Such things as team captaincy and prefectship are highly valued."
It was not all work for the teachers. Non-educational highlights of the trip included surfing and climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
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