A SCHOOL exchange across 6,000 miles has opened both children's and teachers' eyes to different cultures and the wider world around them.

Following a trip by teachers at Grange School to the Deepankara School in Sri Lanka, the favour was returned last week with the visit of Sri Lankan teacher Hemarvo Wijetunge.

Alan Duffy, international co-ordinator and Year 3 teacher at Grange Junior School at Stratton, said: "It's all part of the international dimension of schools.

"It's amazing really and for her it's a real climate change, but really exciting."

The project was done through the charity Adopt Sri Lanka/Twins, which has managed to link 200 schools in the UK with schools all over Sri Lanka.

The idea is for pupils in both countries to benefit from a wider understanding of their different ways of life.

Mr Duffy added: "The children have loved getting the letters and just comparing and contrasting what life is like."

During the week she spent at the school, Hemarvo was able to be part of many classes and talk to them about Sri Lanka.

She said: "I'm quite contented and happy. I was able to get sufficient knowledge in teaching and I'm quite confident I will make use of the skills.

"The children like to meet me and they ask me to teach them Singalese."

She had noticed some obvious differences between life in Sri Lankan schools and English schools.

"The weather is colder than Sri Lanka, but I can manage - I'm wearing a jumper," she added.

Following an application to the British Council Global Schools Partnership for funding, Grange Junior School was able to send two teachers, including Mr Duffy, to Tangalle to visit the school at the end of March.

During the five-day visit, they were able to meet children and staff at the school and see what life was like for Sri Lankans.

Mr Duffy said: "It was a great welcome and the children and staff were very friendly we had a chance to see how the education system works."

Mr Duffy and teacher Diana Everrett also put together a partnership and curriculum agreement to further develop the school links.

Grange Junior School has been working in partnership with schools in other countries like France and Spain for the past six years.

They now plan to build up a similar long-term relationship with the Sri Lankan school.

As part of Adopt Sri Lanka/Twins schoolchildren and teachers decide together on projects that would support and bring benefits to their local school and the UK side decides on projects or fundraising events to answer those needs.

The schools have already exchanged work including information on heritage and traditions and also about the natural environment.

This new focus has had an impact already on the geography curriculum at the school, which has now been changed to include Sri Lanka.