St Chad’s Link with Tongling

As you are probably aware, one of Halton’s twin towns is Tongling in Anhui province in China. In 2000 we decided to submit a bid for Language College status for which we were required to teach a non-European language. Our research indicated that more interest in China was being stimulated in this country as a result of China’s “open door” policy and their much-improved economic, cultural and sporting links with the West. As a result of this we decided to offer Mandarin Chinese.

In 2001 Mr Graley, the Headteacher, and Mrs Burke, the Head of the Language College, went to Tongling to set up a link with Tongling no.3 High School. We were over-whelmed at the response of the Chinese to our plans and would not have been able to imagine its success or its impact on our school. We have been delighted with the way that our pupils have responded so positively to the programme.

Since 2001 there have been many activities based around the link. There have been two visits of students and staff to Tongling to work and study alongside their Chinese counterparts. During each visit a curriculum project was undertaken with a focus on a different subject area. In 2002 the focus was science and in 2004 the focus was on Art and French. The next visit will take place in 2007. We have welcomed three teachers from Tongling no.3 High School to St Chad’s, each one staying for a year and delivering the Chinese curriculum. We have also welcomed 7 students from the school who have studied in St Chad’s and have followed a year 11 curriculum. In April 2004 we were honoured to welcome Mr Hu, Headteacher of Tongling no.3 High School, other colleagues and a group of students from the school who spent a week as our guests following a programme in school and making cultural visits in the local area.

Our China programme is extremely successful and it goes from strength to strength. We are fortunate to have such a good partner school in Tongling no3 High School and we are looking forward to future visits and exchanges. Our link and partnership are based on firm professional and personal bonds that have developed and strengthened during the programme.