Sarah Tynan, Deputy Head of Frensham Schools
As part of Frensham’s strategic plan, we have embedded international exchanges and overseas trips into our annual offering of student experiences. This initiative reflects our commitment to developing globally minded, outward-looking students prepared to thrive in a connected world.
The inclusion of international experiences in our strategic priorities is no coincidence. These opportunities offer a wide range of benefits—enhancing cultural awareness, broadening worldviews, and even boosting academic performance. Students gain invaluable life skills such as independence, confidence, and problem-solving abilities. They also experience cultures and educational systems that, while different, often share similarities with our own, enriching their understanding of the world.
These shared experiences strengthen relationships, between students and teachers, and between students from other schools, while creating lasting memories. For many of us, the most vivid memories of our school years come from camps, excursions, boarding school life, or travel experiences. These moments shape who we become and forge the friendships we all hold dear.
International Trips and Exchanges
Take, for example, our recent 2024 Study Tour to France of the Gold Duke of Edinburgh trip to New Zealand. Looking ahead to 2025, we are excited about the continuation and expansion of the Gold Duke of Edinburgh trip to New Zealand, whilst exploring other opportunities, which deliver multiple benefits:
1. Academic Enrichment
Study tours provide students with deeper subject understanding by allowing them to apply classroom learning in real-world contexts. This makes learning more meaningful and memorable. Students also gain exposure to new perspectives, diverse teaching styles, and different academic expectations, especially when they attend school overseas as part of an exchange.
2. Personal and Social Development
As with all travel, whether it’s international or national, students experience significant personal growth. These experiences challenge students to step outside their comfort zones, boosting confidence and independence. They develop stronger interpersonal and communication skills by travelling, living, and learning with new peers, adapting to unfamiliar environments, and navigating new challenges.
3. Cultural Awareness and Global Perspective
Immersion in other cultures deepens students’ appreciation for different ways of life and helps them understand their place in a global society. These experiences directly support our school’s vision of nurturing globally aware, engaged students.
4. Lifelong Impact
Students create cherished memories, discover new interests, and often return with a deeper understanding of themselves. There are also long-term benefits, exposure to international work cultures and business practices can inspire future career paths and provide advantages in for Gap Year, College and Scholarship applications.
Frensham’s Current Programs and Future Plans
Frensham currently offers a National Exchange Program for select Year 9 students to attend either St Mary’s Anglican School in Perth, Western Australia or The Glennie School in Toowoomba, Queensland. Now in its second year, the program has been extremely successful, offering students a unique opportunity to experience life in another girls’ boarding school, forge friendships, and build confidence through new challenges.
We also support student participation in the Oxbridge Summer Programs held during the June–July holidays, as well as year-long exchanges to France or Italy through external travel providers. These opportunities help students develop independence and self-confidence—ideal preparation for a future gap year or post-school adventures. Additionally, they strengthen University and College applications by demonstrating a student’s ability to adapt, thrive abroad, and challenge themselves beyond their comfort zone in a structured and supportive environment.
Aligned with our strategic priorities, Frensham is now working to expand these initiatives into a formal International Exchange Program. Planning began in May 2025 when Mr Marsh travelled to the UK to establish connections with leading girls’ boarding schools. We are hopeful that the first UK exchange opportunities will be available to students in 2026.
In addition, Ms Tynan will travel to Canada in 2026 to attend the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools Global Conference. During her visit, she will explore potential exchange partnerships with schools in Vancouver and Toronto.
We look forward to sharing more information about our expanding international exchange program as plans are finalised. These are truly exciting developments for our students and our school community.