Work experience abroad will give pupils new challenges and input, as well as teaching them vital trade skills. It will help lower the barriers for applying to Europe for education and work at a later stage. By giving pupils experiences and challenges abroad, Norway can in the future gain employees with valuable additional skills, people who can look beyond Norway and be aware of impulses from other cultures. We are applying for resources to give four pupils from VG2, two from Design and Textiles and two from Catering and Hospitality, work experience within the EU. The project will contain working periods within each subject area as well as training and guidance at college and in the workplace. Our partners are in Taunton, Somerset, England. They are David Francis, Director of Student Services and Foundation Learning at Somerset College of Arts and Technology, (SCAT) and Charlotte Fursdon, General Manager at Sassi Holford, Designer and Manufacturer of exclusive bridal gowns. Both our partners cover the specific educational goals within Catering and Hospitality and Design – Textiles. Communication and cooperation between LVS project coordinator and the partners is extremely good. We have a Memorandum of Agreement from Somerset College and a “Letter of Intent” from Sassi Holford. SCAT has long term experience in organizing living quarters for their own pupils and students. Our pupils will be staying with local host families organized by SCAT before their arrival. In living with a family and working in a local business, the pupils gain a far better knowledge of the English language. This, in turn, gives increased motivation at work and school and greater personal independence. We have experienced that students, who have been given the opportunity to work abroad, gain greater self confidence, ability and skills in all their school subjects. To insure best possible qualification and motivation to take part, the placements are arranged for the second term, between the winter and Easter holiday. To achieve the highest possible progression during the project we are applying for a period of five weeks. In line with national priorities, LVS works actively to insure that pupils complete the education they have chosen. In addition we try to make vocational studies more attractive and increase their quality. A work placement in England will help greatly with both these aims. It will increase the self confidence of the individual pupil and at the same time encourage others to continue in further education or work, including abroad. We know that successful Leonardo da Vinci placements inspire younger pupils to applyto vocational training both at VG1 and VG2 levels. LVS is a very active participant in "Utdanningstorget" for Akershus fylke. At the school stand we have SIU brochures to hand out and when the teachers visit the local schools to inform about our educational programs, they are expected to mention the Leonardo da Vinci project, which is part of our vocational courses. This is in line with the national campaign to increase the numbers of pupils attending vocational courses.