Visit to China paves way for pupils’ trip
TEACHERS from a Burbage school have travelled to China to pave the way for a ground-breaking student trip.
Justin Partner and Karen McQuillin from Hastings High School visited Henan Province as guests of the China National Tourist Office and 5 Star China Travel on a fact-finding mission for a school visit planned for summer 2017.
Head of lower school Mr Partner and head of religious education Ms McQuillin then paid to travel further to find out about other potential educational opportunities on offer.
The aim was to help with preparations for a planned school trip for Year 10 students to be held during the first two weeks of next year’s summer holiday.
It is hoped to give around 14 students the chance to make the 5,000 mile journey, paying their own way.
Ms McQuillin said: “We hope to give students the opportunity to broaden their horizons by visiting a country rich with ancient culture, art, literature, religion and philosophy.
“The Henan Province, which has been a site of ancient capitals for more than 3,200 years, contains many places of historical interest including three world cultural heritage sites, the historic monuments of Dengfeng in ‘the centre of heaven and earth’, the Longman Grottoes and the Yin Shang dynasty ruins.”
The teachers also visited Luoyang and the No2 Leading Edge School where they talked to students about Hastings High School, Hinckley town and the county of Leicestershire.
Ms McQuillin said a “loud cheer erupted” at the mention of Leicester City.
She said that further to the planned school trip it was hoped to develop a UK-China school partnership which would “help the students of our two countries gain the relevant knowledge, skills and outlook to make a positive contribution to the globalised society.
“This will inject excitement into the classroom and provide opportunities to share best practice principles from across the world.”
The teachers said thanks were due to Dr Lin Kuang, director of the China National Tourist Office in London and Melanie Li director of 5 Star China Travel.