O Castro British International School students can study for an academic year at Stonar School (England), one of the Globeducate British International Schools.

Stonar is regarded as one of the leading boarding schools for students from Year 5 upwards. This school is renowned for its attention to the emotional well-being of its students and its excellent teaching. An overseas exchange allows students many benefits such as gaining confidence, improving their English and acquiring a global mindset by broadening their horizons and meeting new friends.

Specifically, Stonar was founded in 1895, and is located in the stunning Wiltshire countryside. If you are considering an overseas exchange for your child, you should know that over 75% of the students at this school are British, providing a truly total language immersion experience, following the same curriculum, sports and activities as their peers. In this welcoming and comfortable boarding school, exchange students will live with other native English speakers or those who speak a different first language, encouraging each other to speak English.

Outside of school hours, foreign boarding students benefit from the school's superb facilities to get the most out of subjects such as the arts, sports and horse riding. 

Benefits of overseas exchanges

The UK education system is based on the country's strong belief in innovation and independence. The exchange students who thrive best in the UK are academically motivated and driven. In particular, Stonar's short-stay programmes offer true immersion in a traditional British boarding school for a full year, or if you prefer, half, one or two full terms.

The opportunity to experience an exchange abroad in a cultural context different from your own allows you to see reality through different eyes. Studying and living abroad can be a rewarding and enriching experience for anyone, especially if you prepare well. We continue to list all these benefits of living an exchange experience abroad:

• Personal growth. A year abroad helps you develop cultural awareness, independence, maturity, self-confidence, adaptability, problem-solving skills, leadership and autonomy. Your child will feel safe and cared for by the boarding school family because in an exchange experience abroad their happiness and well-being are as important as their academic progress. The atmosphere at Stonar, in particular, is relaxed and fun so that students feel free to be themselves.
• Fluency in English. At the end of your exchange abroad you will be able to speak, read and write English more naturally and easily. You will improve your English and make new local friends.
• Cultural background. As an exchange student, you will not only learn English, but also master the culture, customs and traditions of your host country. Be part of the daily life and culture of the school abroad.
• Resilience and community. A mixed-age profile, as in this exchange abroad, develops resilience and a sense of responsibility towards peers, the school and the world. In this boarding school, students learn from a foundation of respect. They live with other people, and as a member of a school family, they learn to interact with different backgrounds and cultures, developing global perspectives.

How to go abroad on exchange: steps

If you're convinced, once you've chosen your exchange centre abroad, it's advisable to take a tour of the school, have an interview to iron out the details, and once everything is in place, the next steps are to prepare the basic documentation:

• Visa and/or residence permit: depending on the nationality and the foreign country you will have to know if a student visa is necessary for the exchange.
• Language tests: most schools ask you to prove your proficiency in the local language. Therefore, if you are looking to apply to academic programmes in English-speaking countries, it is essential that you provide proof of language proficiency.
• Health insurance: better safe than sorry.
• School report: they are likely to ask for school records and grades from previous years, as well as letters of recommendation from teachers and tutors from the previous year.

The most important thing when choosing an exchange abroad is to really look for a home away from home where your child will recognise their sense of individuality and belonging. At Stonar, you will find this 100%.