TEACHERS from above the Arctic Circle have come in from the cold to find out more about vocational education in England.

A group of 30 teachers from northern Norway are visiting Worcester to also improve their English.

During the next fortnight they will be based at the language unit at University College Worcester.

But before the hard work started they were taken on a tour of Royal Worcester Porcelain, Severn Street, Worcester.

They will also visit the Malvern Hills and the Cider Museum in Hereford.

"This is an excellent opportunity for our teachers to improve their spoken English and boost their confidence in using English in their own teaching," said Josephine Stenersen, from the Teacher Education Department at Tromso University, Norway.

Important

"This is very important given the increasing globalisation of the subjects they teach.

"We're also looking forward to enjoying the sights and attractions of this lovely area."

The teachers, from the Nordland, Troms and Finnmark regions of Norway, teach electronics, health and welfare, mechanics, art and design and hotel and nutrition at upper secondary level.

They are being encouraged to use English when they are teaching because of the increasing opportunities for their students to work internationally.

"We value the close contact we have with University College Worcester and wish to develop this through other relevant courses," said Sigmund Nordmo, who is head of administration at the TED, Tromso.