Below are some accounts of their experiences by their teachers and pupils:

"After about 2 weeks in The Oratory, what I find most touching is probably the friendships. At first, I wouldn’t have thought I would have made any friends at all. When I first got here, I met my buddy and he supports the same football team as me, and that was a good thing. However, I noticed that more and more people would like to talk with me, lead me to classes and help me in any way. On the second day, a person asked me what I had got for next lesson, and he led me to the classroom, which is very difficult to find. Later, I found out that we have the same timetable except for Maths. We became good friends, and he really helped me a lot. There was also a boy who supports a rival of my favourite team. I never imagined that we could be friends but after a few days, he seemed very kind and outgoing. Although we can have arguments about football, it doesn’t really matter. Moreover, he’s also the first person to chat with me online. In conclusion, there are still many other friends that I have made during this time, they are all great friends. I really hope that we can have contact with each other later."

"I am extremely honoured that The Oratory has given us this opportunity to experience a completely different campus life. The teachers and students here are all very kind, warm-hearted and sincere. I have made friends from different parts of Europe, and each of them has a distinct personality. For example, in EAL classes, the students have introduced their home, as a result of which I have realised that Spain is such a romantic country. During the Spanish and Latin classes, although we haven't learnt these languages before, the teacher was very proactive in helping us and patiently explained the most fundamental content to us. The teachers in our Maths, Physics and Geography classes were also very kind and they even prepared us some gifts. Beside the studies, they are also very friendly and humorous in their daily lives. For the days having classes we always get lost and couldn't find our classroom in the school since the school is so big. However, everyone enthusiastically showed us the way and chatted with us. In Games time and lunch or dinner time, they are all so enthusiastic that we become friends quickly. In addition, I would like to express my deep gratitude to all the teachers and classmates for their meticulous care. I really love this school. During this study tour, I deeply experienced the local people's beliefs and customs as well as the precious culture of the UK."

"The first thing in this school that impressed me is the wonderful scenery that is close enough to touch. It showed me that the permanent trace of history exists not only in historical sites but also in this school. Our school is located on a little hill. Every day on the way to the classroom building, there is a large green lawn in a low-lying area by the side of the path. Looking at the lawn from the path, the green boundary of grasses connects to the foggy sky and the tall buildings in the nearby town of Reading. I was so curious about whether there was a cliff, a forest or a road beyond the lawn. Therefore, one free afternoon, I walked down the small slope, picked a dandelion, and carefully blow it away without sucking its seeds into my mouth while making a wish. Walking in the middle of the lawn, I felt as if I were in the centre of a green planet. Before I even realised how far I had walked, I was standing at the edge of this green world, and then I saw another lawn and a boundless dark forest at the end, with a satisfied curiosity. 

Beyond the attractive scenery, all the classes led me to experience the school’s traditional culture and helped broaden my views. All the teachers were so nice and enthusiastic and the teaching methods were very interesting. The interaction between me and the teacher captured my interest of two unfamiliar languages. In the French class, our Oratory classmates guided us to complete the tasks (a very short writing piece). Although I copied most of the sentences from the textbook, the fact that I could write a few sentences in French made me feel very proud. Our humorous Physics teacher always greeted us and even gave us three big boxes of chocolate when we left - the words already can’t express our gratitude.

I’ve been so appreciative of all the efforts that our teachers and The Oratory School have made for us. Every little detail in these ten days of being here has deeply touched me." 

"For these days in The Oratory School, we have had a very good life. The pupils here are very friendly and outgoing. They like to talk to us and when we cannot find our classrooms, they help us immediately. The fields here are really big. The best part here is the swimming class. In our school, we don't have a swimming pool. I think this swimming pool Is really good and the class is really exciting.  Most classes here are very interesting and I think the Physics class is the best one. The teachers are really nice and study gives me happiness. I've had a good time here and I want to come back again. Thanks to all the teachers and students who helped me."

"Special thanks to Mr Syddall for your excellent co-ordination skills, including all details and all-encompassing, which is the most solid bridge connecting the friendly exchanges between the two schools." 

Thank you to everyone who supported Beijing Academy during their stay. Cor ad Cor Loquitur.