Turing Scheme success: over £1,000,000 awarded to Impington Village College to fund international travel trips

Impington Village College and its sixth form, Impington International College, have been awarded over £1,000,000 by the Turing Scheme to fully-fund student trips to one of 12 countries around the world - as far as South America - across the remainder of this academic year.

The Turing Scheme is the UK government’s programme to provide schools with funding for students to experience life-changing opportunities abroad and will enhance the internationally-focused learning that takes place at the College through cultural exchange visits and a focus on foreign language learning.

Victoria Hearn, Principal, Impington Village and International College, said: “After being re-awarded our British Council International School Award this year in recognition of our commitment to embedding international-mindedness into our curriculum, we are absolutely thrilled to learn that our application for the Turing Scheme funding was successful. It will enable us to offer all of our students, from Year 7 – 13, the opportunity to experience the benefits of international travel in destinations as diverse as Botswana, Iceland and Portugal; something that is so important following the last 18 months.”

During each visit, students will spend at least three days in a partner school, collaborating and exchanging ideas with their peers before experiencing some of the highlights of the destinations through a programme of cultural enrichment activities.

In February 2022, Year 7 students will visit India and support fundraising efforts to provide equipment for SKSN in Jodhpur, a residential school for the physically challenged. They will also join their host students in school lessons, before touring Delhi to experience the rich, cultural heritage of the country. In July 2022, Year 12 and 13 students will visit Lima and Arequipa in Peru, where they will volunteer with a local charity as teaching aides for local students before immersing themselves in the culture and tradition of the country through activities including bike-rides, horse trekking and camping.

Hannah W, a Year 12 student from Impington International College, said: “I am just so excited to be given the opportunity to go overseas next year. I am most interested in the trip to Japan, the culture has so much to offer.”

Johanna Sale, Vice-Principal, Impington Village and International College said: “As an International Baccalaureate World School, international-mindedness underpins all that we do to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. We are thrilled that the substantial grant from the Turing Scheme will enable us to offer students the chance to develop their foreign language skills, immerse themselves in other cultures and proactively support the international community through volunteering efforts.”