For a week in February, Felpham Community College welcomed a group of international teachers, as part of an exchange programme between the South Korean government and Chichester University.

The South Korean teachers have come to the UK to gain a deeper understanding of our language, culture and educational system. They teach English as a second language in their home country. Within their week at Felpham, they have observed a number of lessons across different year groups and departments – including English, languages, history and geography. They have also taught lessons to FCC students – including learning about festivals and traditions in Korea, different traditional Korean games and even how to write your name in Korean.  

Myung, one of the Korean Visitors, commented:
“The visit to Felpham Community College was much more than a simple school observation; it was a profound journey of professional reflection. From the moment we arrived, the exceptionally warm welcome from the staff and students reflected the inclusive and supportive spirit that defines the school’s community. It was truly inspiring to witness the collaborative atmosphere among the teachers, whose willingness to help and share their expertise offered a powerful model of a thriving educational environment.

However, the most valuable aspect of this experience was the interaction with the students. Their genuine curiosity about our culture and their enthusiastic participation in our lessons – despite our own initial nerves – were deeply moving. This engagement reminded us that the heart of education lies not just in the delivery of knowledge, but in mutual respect and the courage to explore new perspectives together. This visit has become a significant milestone in our teaching careers, providing us with invaluable insights that we will carry back to our classrooms in Korea. We would also like to express our profound gratitude to Felpham Community College for providing us with this extraordinary and rare opportunity to learn and grow as educators”

On Wednesday 4^th February, Felpham Community College held their first Eco Clothes Swap. Students were invited to give in donations of clothes the week before the event, which were swapped for tokens. Tokens could then be exchanged for new items of fashion at the event. Items could also be purchased for the bargain price of 50p an item!

Hattie Middleton, Sixth Form Head Student i/c of Community and Environment commented:
“When I started my role as Head Student, I came up with the idea for this event. The idea is to help students recycle clothes, have fun, save money – and help save the environment at the same time. We had lots of donations which was fantastic but we had no idea how many students would actually turn up to choose something back, so it was great to see the idea work and students have fun. A few students left with whole bin bags of pre-loved fashion to update their wardrobes with! Clothes not rehomed have now been donated to a local charity which supports them fundraising as well, so overall we have been really pleased with how the first event has gone. We are already planning on doing it bigger and better next year!

Ms Kelly, Deputy Headteacher, commented:
“It was so lovely to see the excitement students had for grabbing new outfits. With the positive messages around sustainability, ethical fashion and the UN global goals, alongside the sheer enjoyment of ‘shopping’ with friends and exercising free choice, it was a great opportunity to give our students. Well done and thank you to Hattie and the sixth form charity committee for organising”.