Private School News

Old Mountaineers down under!

A Derbyshire school has set up a new educational partnership in Australia providing sixth form pupils with the chance to head ‘down under’.

Mount St Mary’s College has developed an exchange programme with St Aloysius School, in Sydney, whereby every year two leavers can travel to Australia for a gap year.

As part of the exchange programme, Mount St Mary’s will also be welcoming gap students from St Aloysius.

Daniel Westmoreland, Mount St Mary’s Head Boy from 2007-08, was one of the first pupils to benefit from the schools’ links with St Aloysius – spending his gap year at the Jesuit grammar school.

Murray Happ, St Aloysius’ director of development, recently visited Mount St Mary’s for a tour and to meet and answer questions from some of the hopeful candidates.

Mount St Mary’s headmaster, Laurence McKell said: “We are delighted to be able to formalise this arrangement, as the Australia gap year experience is a wonderful way for our pupils to take a worthwhile year out between school and university.

“We are proud of our connections with other Jesuit schools and committed to developing similar links with schools from around the world. Daniel spent a thoroughly enjoyable year in Australia and we hope many more pupils can benefit from this exchange in the future.”

Daniel was not the only Old Mountaineer to enjoy an exciting adventure abroad courtesy of the school’s international connections.

Adam Gaskell, last year’s Head Boy, spent the summer in Hong Kong where he gained valuable work experience working for Old Mountaineer Geoffrey Chan – a lawyer in a major firm.

Adam said: “The work placement was the experience of a lifetime and I am very grateful to Mr Chan for giving me this opportunity.”

Mr McKell added said: “Both boys had wonderful experiences and we look forward to maintaining and strengthening our international connections so all our pupils can have the opportunities Adam and Daniel did.”

Photo:(L-R) Mount St Mary’s pupils James Proudfoot, Abbie Shearstone and Frances Clarke with Murray Happ, St Aloysius director of development.