Pupils will swap wintry weather in Staffordshire for freezing conditions in the Arctic Circle as part of an education project linking young people from five countries.

Students and staff from Wolstanton High School will travel to Oulu in Finland at the end of February to sample the culture and cuisine.

They are being joined by representatives from schools in France, Germany and Spain.

Dubbed the 'restaurant rendezvous', the project involves each school hosting a week-long visit with a food theme. Wolstanton High is to welcome the international party in March 2011, when oatcakes will be among the dishes on the menu.

The project is being funded by the British Council's Comenius programme. Teacher Clint Lakin, of Wolstanton High, said: "The school we are visiting never has to close for the snow, even though there is currently 120cm of it to battle through."

Waving the Finnish flag are from left, pupils Elizabeth Heaney aged 15, Jess Harvey, 13, Tom Morris, 12, Philip Long, 12, Hannah Revell, 12, Amy Johnson, 12, and Julian Bird 13.

Picture: Phil Radcliffe