Links across the world to build a brighter future.
Dalian City Education Bureau and North Lincolnshire Council
North Lincolnshire China visits 2005
The joint HSBC and British Council three year funding enabled ten headteachers to make initial links with schools in Dalian and three officers to travel to sustain and develop further links at local authority level. Additional funding from a variety of sources, mainly TIPD and British Council, enabled a delegation of 40 in total to travel under LA leadership. Additional delegates were able to continue existing links, work on curriculum projects, open opportunities for post 16 shared learning in motor vehicle maintenance and childcare and deliver training in early years education.
New Link Schools (10 schools)
All new linking heads received the overpowering welcome that is the characteristic of the first encounter with a Chinese school. The preparation had not dulled the experience for them in any way and all were totally overwhelmed by the hospitality and VIP treatment. The buddy system we have used in previous years was very successful. Friendship agreements were signed by all 10 link schools and plans already made for curriculum links for next year. Letters for pen pals were exchanged. Each school left with a project in mind and changes that they will make to their own curriculum to embed Chinese culture in some way. The special school link was particularly successful. The schools have much in common, but also much to learn from each other.
Curriculum Projects and TIPD (nine schools)
The planning for curriculum linking projects had been undertaken with most schools prior to the visits. ICT communication is better in some links than others and the North Lincolnshire Chinese Language assistant had enabled telephone conversations and faxes where possible to smooth the planning. All schools undertook some discussions about agreed shared projects and all staff taught, including the Higher Level Teaching Assistants. Many ideas were exchanged and plans made for the shared curriculum projects. One school ICT Co-ordinator (Winterton Comprehensive School) set up and launched a shared web-site during the visit to enable both schools to have instant access to resources and student projects. As well as being an unforgettable developmental experience for the staff concerned, the work strengthened relationships and plans for the future, including pupil visits at secondary and the promotion of Mandarin and culture in primary and special education.
LA developments
Early years training
One hundred Kindergarten teachers plus 20 observers engaged in two full days training paid for by the Dalian Bureau and delivered by the Head of Early Years and Surestart and two of her leading officers. The training took place at the university. The presentation of high quality planning and inter-active learning was highly valued by the Chinese. They are keen to run more kindergartens offering English style curriculum and learning environment. The Director of the Bureau has offered to pay for North Lincolnshire staff to go and set up and train staff in a new nursery built to deliver an English style curriculum.
The Deputy CEO, as leader of the Delegation, was involved in talks with the professors and lecturers of teacher training and early years about the way in which we train and monitor the quality of provision of teaching and learning. This resulted in the Dalian Bureau wishing to send six lecturers to North Lincolnshire in December to study our methods and six delegates to study early years provision.
The Advisory Officer in charge of Graduate Teacher training in North Lincolnshire was engaged in talks about the programme of training we could sell to Dalian for their young teachers. He visited several schools and spoke to teacher trainers in schools and observed Chinese teaching methods. Plans are in discussion for the purchase of teacher training for Dalian teachers. The English method of teaching is very highly valued in China. The teacher trainees, all of whom would be English speakers, would be placed in a link school in North Lincolnshire four days per week to learn about teaching methods and contribute to the school by teaching Chinese culture and Mandarin free of charge. One day per week they would attend training organised by North Lincolnshire, some of which is part of the existing Graduate Teacher programme. North Lincolnshire will plan a programme of cultural visits etc and arrange their accommodation and travel. The programme would be for three months and involve 12 teachers per cohort. It is anticipated that Dalian will purchase the package from September 2006, but the visit of Officials in December will advance the plans.
Post 16 developments
As a result of the school linking project, both post 16 colleges in North Lincolnshire have developed partnerships with Dalian. John Leggott college has taken its first Dalian A level student and plans are ongoing to open the offer to groups of students in the near future.
The Vocational College sent two staff members with our October delegation and are now planning to receive trainee lecturers and teachers to further the partnership in the teaching the areas of Motor Maintenance and Childcare. Whilst in Dalian they were able to visit schools and other settings. Particularly impressive was the Dalian Modelling school, offering many exciting ideas for the enhancement of the local vocational curriculum in North Lincolnshire.
Trade Delegation
The Mayor of Dalian is very keen to receive a trade delegation from North Lincolnshire as soon as possible led by the Chief Education Officer. Plans are in hand to make this happen in 2006.
Future Plans
As the number of schools engaged in the project grows each year, they become more independent of the LA support. Three schools arranged their own link visits in October funded by TIPD and school budgets agreed with their governors. Clusters of Secondaries and their feeder Primaries are now working together to provide continuity of opportunities for pupils, eg two Secondaries have funded a Language Assistant from a Dalian link school whom they share at cost with two Primaries. It is anticipated that more Assistants will be sought next year, particularly as the Excellence Cluster now has all its Secondaries and two Primaries with Dalian school links. Although the LA cannot insist that particular schools take part, we are trying to be strategic in our support of groups of schools sharing the experience who will offer continuity of study for pupils from the Early Years onwards
Dalian delegation visit to North Lincolnshire – April 2005
Fifteen headteachers and four education officials from Dalian spent a week visiting schools and colleges across North Lincolnshire in April 2005.
Sixteen of our schools have formal links with schools in the Dalian region. Some of them are now teaching Mandarin to pupils. The Chinese delegation was impressed at how this is progressing. The visit looked at different teaching methods and learning. It also provided everyone with an opportunity to share ideas and broaden awareness of each other’s cultures.
In 2004 experts from North Lincolnshire went to Dalian to provide training to 140 teachers on teaching methods in this country. The council aims to have every school in North Lincolnshire linked with a similar school in Dalian over a four-year period.
As a result of the visit, links with both post 16 colleges have opened up as well as business opportunities in North Lincolnshire
For further information on North Lincolnshire schools' work with their link schools in Dalian, please visit the international links page on the North Lincolnshire Grid for Learning website
Initial links 2003-2004