Arran High School pupils represent Scotland at European Youth Forum

Suzie Dick said: “What has been particularly great, from a teacher’s perspective, is to see all our students heading out the door, or on the football field, with friends they have made here from different countries, not just sticking with each other.

"There has also been definite broadening of horizons and understanding of other’s lives, including when the Ukrainian’s air raid sirens sounded - announcing rockets coming towards Kiev - on their phones while in the house.”

In addition to the serious work, the Arran delegation visited a local high school.

Suzie Dick described it in her daily blog: “The day started with workshops, then we visited a local high school. We saw round the school and ate in the school cafeteria.

"What was interesting about the school is that it is similar to Arran in student numbers and it has its primary school, middle school and high school together on one site.

"The school is minimalist. The walls are quite bare and there is no clutter in the classrooms.

"Even in the primary four and primary five classrooms, there were no playthings out and everyone had desks and there was a carpet to sit in front of the screen. They do play, the teacher told me, but mostly it is traditional learning.”

The two teachers attended many of the workshops and attended teacher workshops which involved discussing issues in education that are common across Europe.

They also hosted a Scottish food-tasting event for the other teachers.

After a busy and eventful week, the students returned to Arran with a new perspective on student life.

Suzie Dick summed up the value of the trip by saying: “The students benefited from meeting and creating friendships with others of their age around Europe, broadening horizons and learning about life outwith Arran, Scotland and the UK."