A CHORLEY teacher has swapped school, house and car for a 12-month spell in New Zealand.

Southlands High School maths teacher Lynne Bramwell left for the kiwi country a month ago following three years of thorough planning, and in her place is New Zealand counterpart Faye Cowin from Tauranga.

First-time visitor to the UK Faye shared her first impressions. She said: "I'm only just getting used to the dark drawing in at 4pm and the freezing weather. People warned me about the cold beforehand but I never envisaged all this snow."

Faye explained the education system down under has recently undergone changes in the curriculum to bring it into line with the rest of the Commonwealth. She also said: "Pupils have to wear uniforms over there too, but I think in New Zealand schools are more casual - that's mainly down to our culture.

"Teaching maths isn't very different - numbers and sums are pretty much the same wherever you go."

There has been, she admitted, some giggles and remarks concerning her accent but on the whole pupils have been "very helpful and interested."

She added: "And I have to say in all honesty that I'm fortunate to be at Southlands because the standard of work displayed has been very impressive."

Headteacher John Lawson said: "The children are fascinated with her school stories and culture."

She said: "One of the nicest things about Chorley is that it's quite central so it's easy to see around the country."

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