FOR UK SCHOOLS
Welcome the world.
Broaden your school’s horizons.
Host an international school group and give your students the opportunity to learn, connect and build friendships across cultures — within their own school.
Explore hosting with GSEPreparation and support · Meaningful school experiences · Travel credits
HOST SCHOOLS FROM ABROAD
An international experience.
Part of everyday school life.
A successful immersion programme brings visiting students into the life of your school. They learn alongside your pupils, share lunch and activities, and discover what school feels like in another country.
For your students
Practise welcoming others, communicate across language differences and develop confidence through real relationships.
For your staff
Where visiting educators accompany the group, create opportunities to share practice, compare approaches and build professional connections.
For your school
Bring an international perspective into the school community and explore relationships that could continue beyond the visit.
PREPARE WITH CONFIDENCE
You bring your school.
We help you prepare.
You do not need to have every detail worked out before speaking to us. GSE works with the School Lead to agree the programme, understand the visiting group and prepare the people who will make the experience work.
Training and preparation cover the practical decisions that matter: student buddies, staff communication, the timetable, arrival and welcome, and the agreed routes for support.
Discuss your school’s preparation →Training, guidance and support
- A pre-programme briefing for the School Lead and relevant staff.
- Information about the visiting students and accompanying staff, where applicable.
- Guidance on preparing buddies and making lessons welcoming and participatory.
- Practical planning resources and programme information.
- Clear GSE contact and support arrangements.
- A post-visit review to learn from the experience.
Your school’s established safeguarding and welfare procedures remain central, alongside the agreed GSE programme arrangements.
THE SCHOOL’S ROLE
A clear plan. A warm welcome.
Appoint a School Lead
Choose a main point of contact to coordinate preparation, keep colleagues informed and liaise with GSE.
Prepare people and routines
Select and brief buddies, involve the relevant staff and plan how visitors will participate in lessons, lunch and activities.
Keep communication open
Use the agreed contact arrangements, raise concerns promptly and review how the group is settling into school life.
Support matched to your programme
Many short-term group immersion programmes include an on-site GSE Programme Coordinator. Other programmes may use arrival and departure support, scheduled visits or check-ins and remote support. We will confirm who your contact is, when GSE will be present and how to obtain help before the programme begins.
RELATIONSHIPS FIRST
Give young people
a reason to connect.
Student buddies help visitors feel welcome, find their way around and become part of normal school life. The opportunity works both ways: host students can develop communication, leadership and intercultural understanding.
A shared task, a conversation over lunch or an introduction to friends can be the beginning of a meaningful connection. The aim is participation and belonging, rather than simply observing the school.
Read about language learning in action →HOSTING IN ACTION
See what hosting can look like.
Explore examples of schools welcoming international groups, with films from 2019 and 2025.
2025
Hosting an international group
SOUTHAMPTON · 2019
A school hosting in Southampton
PARK COMMUNITY SCHOOL · 2025
Hosting at Park Community School
HOST · EARN · TRAVEL
Hosting can open doors
for your own school.
Hosting eligible GSE programmes can earn your school travel credits, helping make future international opportunities more accessible for your students and educators.
Welcome a visiting group
Deliver an agreed school immersion programme with preparation and support from GSE.
Build your travel credits
Confirm the credits available for your particular hosting arrangement with GSE before the programme begins.
Explore future opportunities
Discuss how your school’s credits could contribute to eligible student trips or educator learning programmes.
Credit earning rates, eligible uses and the contribution required depend on the programme and agreed arrangements. Confirm these with GSE when planning.
START A CONVERSATION
Could your school
welcome the world?
Tell us about your school, the age groups you work with and when hosting might fit your calendar. We can explore an appropriate programme and explain the preparation, support and credits involved.
Talk to GSE about hosting