About 50 students from across Europe visited a school as part of an international education programme this week.

Romford Recorder: Bower Park Academy pupils visit Recorder HQBower Park Academy pupils visit Recorder HQ (Image: Archant)

Bower Park Academy, in Havering Road, Romford, hosted the guests for six days as part of the Comenius project, which aims to develop knowledge and understanding of European values and the diversity of its cultures.

Students from Romania, Turkey, Sweden, Italy and Poland visited Bower Park this week – the only British School in the project – as they have previously hosted the Romford students on visits.

They were greeted with a welcome ceremony and special assembly at the school on Monday before a week of lessons, project work and cultural excursions began.

One such trip was to Recorder HQ where the staff and students met our editor, Chris Carter, and received a presentation on the paper and a tour of the news- room.

Mr Carter said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the European students to the Recorder offices and give them an insight into our industry.

“We are always happy to help our schools and we hope the students enjoyed their time with us.”

Other excursions during the Comenius project included a day in central London spent at the museums in South Kensington, lunch in Hyde Park, a visit to Selfridges and an afternoon shopping in Westfield Stratford City.

Eddie Aylett, the asssistant headteacher at Bower Park Academy, said: “Watching the students from across Europe, make lifelong friendships and memories is a highlight. We live in a multicultural Britain, and to hold such an event at Bower Park, that enables all pupils to grow, develop and learn from, is incredible.”

The visitors returned to their home countries yesterday having had the trip of a lifetime to London.