A GROUP of German students are set to join Bolton's workforce when they arrive in the town next week on an exchange visit.

The 18 students are from a school in Paderborn-Elsen which is twinned with Westhoughton High School, and have been found placements with firms in and around the town ranging from jobs in retail to work in schools and colleges.

One member of the group, Raoul Fiebig, aged 19, will be spending a week at the Bolton Evening News here in Churchgate. Raoul has already written articles for publication at home but wanted the opportunity to take a look at the British media scene.

The visit is the second leg of an exchange between the two schools this year. In June, five students from Westhoughton spent two weeks in Germany on work experience placements in primary schools, a bank and sports centre.

The students - Stephanie Dunn, Katharine Marsh, Sarah Stevens, Laura Halliwell and Laura Taylor - were all studying German at A Level and the experience was an opportunity for them to improve their language skills. Now it is the turn of their German friends.

The students will be arriving next Tuesday and will be staying with the families of pupils at Westhoughton High School. On Wednesday they will attending a reception in school where they will be welcomed by the town mayor of Westhoughton Cllr Kath Dawson.

They will also visit their placements ready to begin work the second week. Two students will work at local stores, several will be employed in primary schools throughout Westhoughton and one in Wigan while others are at Wigan college. Another boy has been found work at a Westhoughton garage.

Simon Gill head of careers and work experience at Westhoughton High School said a wide variety of placements have been found for the visitors.

"All of them are studying English and the idea is for them to have an opportunity to use the language in working situations. As part of their exam course they have to spend some time in England and will have to write on their work experience."

Mr Gill said the visit to Paderborn by the Westhoughton students had been a great success and all had enjoyed their placements, which apart from improving their German has boosted their confidence.

"Now was have built the foundations we hope the scheme can continue and hopefully give more students the opportunity of taking part," said Mr Gill. He added that the school was also looking to extend the scheme by establishing links with a school in Le Mans.

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