STAFF and students at two Evesham schools played host to special guests from Rajasthan in India when they visited the Vale.

The representatives from Simon de Montfort Middle School and Evesham High School welcomed the group from Mayoor School in Ajmer.

The visitors were guests of sixth form students Hannah Cole, Hattie Green, Sam Bannister, Jack O’Connell, Abbie Pinchbeck and Dan Osbourne.

They were afforded a generous welcome by the student’s families and enjoyed a personal experience of British family life.

The teachers from India, Neerja Chaturvedi, Divya Khanna, and Manisha Mulchandani, were visiting the Evesham schools as part of the British Council’s Connecting Classrooms project.

Students and teachers were introduced at special assemblies by headteacher Ms Caroline Browne where they answered questions about their school, life in India and their first impressions of Evesham.

Andrew Denton, assistant headteacher, said: "The group visited and participated in many lessons at both schools. They enjoyed the high standards of teaching and learning they witnessed and were particularly enthusiastic about the curiosity and warmth shown towards them by students both inside and out of the classroom."

The visit is part of the ongoing relationship between Simon de Montfort, Evesham High School and Mayoor, and follows on from the visit by Evesham students to India in February this year.

He added: "It is hugely important that students are made aware of the cultural differences that exist in the world and through this relationship we hope that our students will learn that diversity is something to be celebrated."