Links across the world to build a brighter future./P>
Dalian City Education Bureau and North Lincolnshire Council
In October 2003, the British Council paid for eight headteachers to visit China. The aim of the visit was to form partnerships with primary and secondary schools in the city of Dalian.
Geoff Turner, headteacher at Frederick Gough School, was instrumental in setting up the visit. He also worked with the British Council in China to ensure it was a success. Teachers and students from Frederick Gough School already pay regular visits to a link school in China.
Two council officers accompanied the headteachers on the visit. The council now has a working partnership with a district authority in China.
The venture impressed the British Council and the Education Authorities in China. The partnership provides many opportunities for return visits and placements in our schools. Young people in North Lincolnshire will now contact young people in China on a regular basis and learn about Chinese culture and language. Teachers can exchange news and ideas. Headteachers will be in touch with each other frequently.
The council officers were welcomed with outstanding respect and hospitality. The British Council and the Chinese authorities recognise the excellence of North Lincolnshire schools. They would like to receive training and inspiration from the council in a range of subjects, particularly in the area of early years education.
The council hopes that the partnership with China will grow strong. The aim is for more headteachers to visit and form links with schools in Dalian. There are plans for Chinese education officers, headteachers and teachers to visit North Lincolnshire in the near future.
North Lincolnshire and Dalian have much to learn from each other. This is the first exciting step on the road to a friendship that will enrich the lives of young people for the future.
Headteachers from a number of schools visited China in November 2004. These were:
- South Leys Business & Enterprise College
- Sir John Nelthorpe School
- Vale of Ancholme Technology College
- Haxey Primary School
- Riddings Infant School
- Broughton Infant School
- Winterton Junior School
- St Augustine Webster Primary School
- St Bernadette’s Primary School
Four council officers accompanied the headteachers. This was to help train some teachers and work with the kindergarten project.