School welcomes Chinese visitors in new exchange

Jan 9 2009 by Brian Daniel, The Journal

A GROUP of Chinese students are visiting a Northumberland school.

The pupils, from Shijiazhuang, in China’s Hebei Provence, arrived at Duchess’s High School, Alnwick, yesterday for a two-day stay.

The trip follows a visit to the Chinese school by Alnwick deputy headteacher Steve Handley and a colleague.

It is intended to develop links between the schools which will see the signing of an agreement on co-operative working and further exchange visits.

The Chinese will tour the school and meet students and staff. They will also see some of the local sights.

Mr Handley said: “This is a very exciting development for the Duchess’s school and for the community of Alnwick.

“We have never had visitors from China at the school and we are hoping that this will be the start of a long-lasting friendship and exchange of ideas and culture over the years to come.”

The Hebei Provence is four hours’ drive from Beijing and has a population of 70 million.