TAVISTOCK College students have taken a trip to the Japanese Embassy to experience the country's culture.

Japanese teachers took 30 Year 8 students to the London venue to try out their language skills and take part in Far Eastern traditions.

Teacher Sally Benson said: 'We were invited back this year because last year's group were so good.

'It's nice to take them in Year 8 when they've done a whole year of language learning so they can have some interaction with Japanese people.'

The students tried their hands at calligraphy and origami and posed for photographs in Japanese clothes. The geography department was also involved in the trip for the first time and students will now study Japan in their geography lessons.

Miss Benson said: 'We were all very impressed by their uniform and behaviour. They really were a credit to themselves and to Tavistock College. One of the embassy staff commented that she remembered our smart, well behaved pupils from last year.'

Student Georgia Cousins said the trip was a great experience.

'I really enjoyed dressing up in the traditional kimonos, writing with the proper traditional ink and brush and making amazing creatures out of paper,' she said.

Tavistock College is one of the few schools in the country to offer Japanese from Year 7. Students are able to take the language as a GCSE and many continue on to A-level.