At The Grange School, we know that some of the most powerful lessons happen beyond the classroom. Our international exchange programme gives Senior School pupils the chance to live, study, and thrive in a new environment where they gain independence, confidence, and fresh perspectives. 

Since 2013, we’ve partnered with St Mark’s School in Boston (USA), and in 2024, we proudly launched a new exchange with  Cheltenham College (England). Both schools share our commitment to academic excellence, tradition, and the development of well-rounded individuals.

Competition for places is high, with successful applicants selected for their academic record, character, and readiness for the challenge. Those chosen immerse themselves in every aspect of school life abroad — from lessons and sports to cultural events and boarding — while we also welcome visiting pupils into our own Community.

The Cheltenham link grew from conversations between Headmaster Mr Eatough and Cheltenham’s Head, Mrs Nicola Huggett, at the HMC conference in 2022. With historic ties between our schools and a shared appetite for global collaboration, the idea quickly took shape. After careful planning and visits in both directions, our first exchange became a reality this year.

In January 2025, Amaya Selman O’Shaughnessy and León Peñafiel de la Cuadra, two Grange 3°EM pupils, spent two weeks at Cheltenham, taking an active part in School life and enjoying the warm hospitality of its Community.

On the other hand, over the past few weeks we had the pleasure of welcoming Charles Quirke and Emilia Hesketh, two pupils from Cheltenham College. During this first visit, the pupils attended classes in 3°EM, where they had the opportunity to meet and share experiences with pupils of their own age. Accompanied by Miss Verónica Rivera Prat, our Head of Admissions and External Partnerships, who acted as their host, they toured different places, gaining a glimpse of our country and culture. This experience not only strengthened the bond between our institutions but also gave our visitors a deeper understanding of Chilean identity, while enriching our Community through cultural and human exchange.

We would like to share Mrs Verónica Rivera’s perspective on this special visit and experience.

“As part of the International Partnerships project I lead, and aiming to continue the programme established several years ago with St Mark’s School in the USA, we have been working to create more opportunities for short-term exchanges with outstanding and prestigious schools in the United Kingdom.

Last January, we successfully launched this new exchange destination and two of our pupils attended Cheltenham College in the UK. They fully integrated into the daily life of the School as boarders. In turn, this past July, and in reciprocity, we welcomed two Cheltenham College pupils into our classrooms.

In my opinion, the pupils who have participated in this experience have returned with renewed motivation, an enhanced sense of pride in, and a deeper commitment to their School. They express a greater appreciation for the effort made by their families and by all members of the Staff to ensure a school life enriched with diverse learning opportunities, a daily routine focused on developing their talents, and broadening their interests and aspirations. I believe it has allowed them to see more clearly and coherently the values and principles that define us as a School of excellence in every sense of the word.They have tested their strengths by challenging themselves in the demands of engaging in a more culturally diverse environment, applying all their strategies to learn and interact harmoniously. I have also been moved by the warm and generous welcome that The Grange School Community has shown to our visitors, who at all times expressed feeling very well received and impressed by the deep sense of appreciation and Community spirit our pupils consistently showed”.

Our Headmaster, Mr Nicholas A. T. Eatough, also shared his thoughts on the projects that are forthcoming or currently underway in this area. In his words: “Given the success of the inaugural exchange, we look to the future with great optimism: ideas include teacher exchanges and other joint ventures, ensuring that this partnership’s benefits reach every corner of our School Community.”

Our International Partnerships

We are proud to currently maintain partnerships with two prestigious schools: St Mark’s School in the United States and Cheltenham College in England. These collaborations, built on shared values and a commitment to educational excellence, offer our pupils unique opportunities for academic, cultural, and personal growth. 

Below, we share a brief description of each school and the special ties we have developed with them over the years.

St Mark’s School – United States
Located on the outskirts of Boston, Massachusetts, St Mark’s School is an institution with more than 160 years of tradition, renowned for its academic excellence, vibrant community life, and commitment to the all-round development of its pupils. Founded in 1865, it combines a rigorous academic programme with a wide range of sporting, artistic, and service activities, in an environment that values both tradition and innovation.

With its Latin motto Age Quod Agis (“Do what you are doing” or “Be driven because you have momentum”), the school promotes intellectual curiosity, independent thinking, innovation, and global engagement. Seventy-five per cent of its pupils reside on campus, enriching the sense of community. St Mark’s ranks among the top 50 private secondary schools in the United States, excelling in academic achievement, diversity, extracurricular activities, and sport.

For the past 10 years, we have maintained a valuable exchange programme with them. 

This year, we welcomed Julia Hepp, Angela Pedulli, Si Ah Jang, Siena Letrendre, Katherine Hendrie, Bella Summer and Justine O’Connel, six pupils and their teacher, who joined our classes and activities, visited iconic places in the Metropolitan Region, and experienced the warmth of our host families. These families had previously taken part in the programme, as their own children had spent a month at St Mark’s in January 2025. In the video attached below, you can hear from two of the pupils themselves about how they experienced their stay in Chile, as well as from the teacher who accompanied them.

We would like to share the views and reflections of Mr Jesús Rojas, Head of Careers, on this recent visit:

“Having the St. Mark’s students with us was a real privilege. For those who chose to approach them, it was a chance to connect with native English speakers their own age and to get a glimpse into American culture and school life. I could see how these conversations, whether in class, over lunch or during activities, created moments of genuine curiosity and exchange. The students who engaged came away with more confidence in their English, a broader perspective on the world and a reminder of how enriching it is to welcome people from different backgrounds into our community. I was also glad to see how much the St. Mark’s visitors enjoyed their time in Chile and at our school. Their positive experience was possible thanks to the warmth of our community, the openness of our pupils and, above all, the generosity of the host families, who deserve special recognition for making them feel at home. Connections like these often grow into lasting friendships, keeping the spirit of the exchange alive long after the visit ends.”

Cheltenham College – England

Founded in 1841, Cheltenham College is one of the earliest and most distinguished Victorian public schools in England. Situated in the picturesque town of Cheltenham, in the heart of the Cotswolds, it combines the grandeur of its architecture with the vibrant cultural life of a city renowned for its world-class festivals.

Cheltenham offers a holistic education for pupils aged 13 to 18, with both boarding and day options, and a strong academic focus that includes programmes such as GCSE, iGCSE, and A Level. It is distinguished by its emphasis on character development, independence, and learning “beyond the classroom”, supported by a wide range of extracurricular activities and community service opportunities.

Our connection with Cheltenham College holds special significance for The Grange School. Our founder, Mr John A. S. Jackson, was a pupil there, and it was from Cheltenham that he brought to Chile the vision, values, and traditions that have shaped our identity for over a century. This historic link makes our partnership a source of great pride, strengthening the ties between both institutions and enriching our community through shared heritage and educational excellence.

We are excited to announce that next week we will be inviting our 2°EM pupils to apply for the exchange programme taking place in January 2026. This is a unique opportunity to explore a new culture, broaden pupils horizons, and create unforgettable memories — we look forward to seeing many of our pupils take part!

Beyond Academics: A Cultural Exchange and an Opportunity to Discover New Horizons

In this most recent experience, the visiting pupils, accompanied by their teachers, took part in a programme specially designed to immerse them in the history, culture, and traditions of our country. Their journey through the Central Valley began with a visit to Viña Santa Ema, where they learned about the production and export of Chilean wines, toured vineyards and cellars, explored the bottling plant and barrel room, and enjoyed a natural juice tasting to discover different aromas and flavours.

They then visited the picturesque town of Pomaire, famous for its pottery tradition. There, they participated in a clay workshop, crafting their own chanchito de greda — a traditional Chilean symbol of good luck — and savoured a typical Chilean lunch. The programme also included a tour of downtown Santiago and a visit to La Moneda Palace, one of our country’s most important historical landmarks.

During their stay, the delegations also spent valuable time with our 3°EM students, joining them in a range of activities. These interactions were much more than academic encounters; they were a true cultural exchange, where both our visitors and our pupils gained fresh perspectives, shared traditions, and learned from each other’s ways of life. Experiences like these not only enrich the participants but also strengthen our entire community, fostering openness, empathy, and a broader understanding of the world.

As a School, we are proud to host initiatives that go beyond the classroom, offering opportunities to discover new cultures, build lasting international friendships, and develop global awareness. We hope more members of our Community will be inspired to take part in these exchanges, and we look forward to expanding such initiatives, which are so rewarding and beneficial for everyone involved.

If you would like to learn more about these projects, please speak to Mrs Verónica Rivera Prat, Head of Admissions and International Partnerships.