STUDENTS sampled life in Germany for a week when they stayed with host families in Bavaria.

Year 9 pupils from Haslingden High School first met their German counterparts in July when they visited the UK.

For one student, Emily Wilkinson, 13, the trip was not only useful for her school work but it also helped her to communicate with her stepmother and her sister who are both bilingual.

Students visited various places including a salt mine, a palace in Munich, a castle in Austria and went on a boat trip across Lake Konigssee.

Emily said: β€œIt was really pretty. There was a guy who was playing a trumpet there and hearing the sound echoing back through the mountains was magical.”

Students also attended a German school, but were shocked when they had to be in school for 8am, although the day ended at 1pm. They were also surprised that there was no uniform.