Cultural Exchange Day with Fujimigaoka High School
18th March 2026
With a school culture that encourages our pupils to be outward looking, and be open to new experiences, we were delighted to once again welcome pupils and teachers from Fujimigaoka High School. The visit was a wonderful opportunity to strengthen international links and celebrate the cultural diversity that enriches our school community.
During the day, our visitors experienced life at Westonbirt by joining a range of lessons, including Science, English, Drama and Modern Foreign Languages, gaining a real insight into how pupils in the UK learn and interact in the classroom.
A highlight of the day was an engaging presentation delivered by the Fujimigaoka pupils, who shared fascinating insights into life in Japan including school routines and traditions. Our pupils were fascinated by what they heard, and it sparked plenty of discussion!
Our visitors also led a series of interactive cultural workshops, giving our pupils the chance to experience and celebrate elements of Japanese culture first-hand. These sessions were both enjoyable and educational, helping to deepen understanding and appreciation of a culture many of our pupils are eager to learn more about.
One particularly memorable moment came in a Year 7 PSHE lesson, where pupils took part in a personality shield activity designed to help them get to know their Japanese guests. Everyone was invited to create a shield featuring their hobbies, family, favourite foods, goals and something important to them. They then walked around the room sharing their shields with one another, discovering both the similarities and differences between their lives.
The day left a lasting impression on everyone involved:
‘We drew a shield, drawing on our family, hobbies, favourite foods and movie,’ said Theo from Year 7. ‘It was fun looking at the similarities (and differences) in each other’s shields.’
Our Head of Languages Elizabeth Holman agreed, ‘This visit has been an incredibly rewarding experience for everyone involved. It was inspiring to see pupils so engaged, open-minded, and enthusiastic about learning from one another. Opportunities like this help build confidence, global awareness, and lasting friendships.’
Dr. Narutoshi Yoshida, Principal of Fujimigaoka High School, sent us a lovely message.
‘We would like to thank Westonbirt School once again for providing such a wonderful experience for our pupils. It will undoubtedly be a highlight of their trip to England. This is a very special partnership, and we hope it continues to grow from strength to strength. Westonbirt will always hold a special place for them.’
We are incredibly proud of this partnership and look forward to continuing to build on our connection with Fujimigaoka High School, and to developing our exchange programmes in the years to come.