Cherwell Students Meet the Finnish Ambassador On London Study Trip

In preparation for their international study and adventure trip to Finland and Estonia this April, thirty-two Year 12 students from the Cherwell School explored London, grilled the Finnish Ambassador and uncovered the global links of universities.

Funding from the Turing Scheme, the UK’s global programme to study and work abroad, has enabled a transformative, unique and fully-funded adventure and study opportunity. In a two day preparatory trip to London, students began to develop new skills, gain travel experience and boost their knowledge of Finland.

Students were honoured to be given an audience with the Finnish Ambassador to the UK, Jukka Siukosaari, and senior specialist for universities and science, Birgitta Vuorinen. Over 90 minutes, students learned about the cultural, social and political characteristics that make Finland unique. Students were fascinated by its sustainability innovations, its egalitarian ambitions, the diversity and parity of educational routes and its national character as a “problem solver” not a “trouble maker”. 

Students took the opportunity to grill the ambassador on the pressing issues of the day: national responses to the Covid pandemic and Finland’s role in the conflict in Ukraine. After giving context to Finland’s historic resistance to Soviet oppression, the ambassador inspired students with a message about resilience to discomfort, self-determination and doing what you can, within your moral compass.

Noah, 16, said: “Meeting the Finnish ambassador was enlightening and inspiring. I was especially interested by his impressive commitment to transparency, which really contrasts our own country, as well as his openness and honesty. I also loved the Finnish attitude to coalition politics and its deep rooted culture of compromise and trust.”

Students were thrilled to explore three London universities as part of their trip, with a library workshop and talk on endangered languages archives with the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), lunch provided by the London School of Economics (LSE) and an afternoon coffee at University College, London (UCL). 

Students developed their independence, group work, initiative and planning skills, crossing central London by foot in a geocaching challenge - before walking even further in a night walk tour after dinner. 

Ella, 16, said: “I’ve surprised myself this trip with the amount of patience I’ve had when I’ve been around people 24/7 and I don’t have my usual spaces. There was so much to do that I wasn’t on my phone the whole time and I actually paid attention to all the new things around me!”.

Students toured two London museums, exploring the collections of the Wellcome Collection and the British Library. Each student selected one object to share in a ‘balloon debate’, with Emma ultimately triumphing with her defence of a Japanese silver memento mori figurine, used to remind people of the transience of life and material luxury, principles the students felt captured the ethos of their adventure trip and travels. 

The preparation London trip was made possible by the generous donations of the Friends of Cherwell, including local business Scale Coach. The Turing Scheme grant covers basic cost of living, travel and accommodation but it does not include trip activities. In order to give students unforgettable experiences unique to Finland and Estonia - such as lake swimming, aurorae hunting and sampling traditional food - the group are seeking sponsorship and donations from individuals and businesses (contact: cricher@cherwellschool.org).  

Charlotte Richer, Academic Enrichment Coordinator and English teacher said: “We are thrilled that the students embraced our London trip so enthusiastically and with such determination. We know that they will be brilliant ambassadors for Cherwell and UK schools when they reach Helsinki, Rovaniemi and Tallinn next month and that it will be an enriching experience for everyone involved - students and staff!”