Worksop students set to become Global Citizens through China partnership

Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT) is expanding its international partnership with the Global School Alliance (GSA), marking a new era of global citizenship for students across the regions it serves.

Following a leadership delegation to Shenzhen, China, during the October half-term holiday, the family of schools is moving forward with an ambitious exchange programme. This initiative will see its Worksop-based academies host a major Chinese delegation this summer, followed by a reciprocal student trip to China in 2027.

In June, Outwood Academy Valley, Outwood Academy Portland, and Outwood Post 16 Centre Worksop will host nearly 20 students and staff from Longcheng High School in Shenzhen. As a "sister school" to Outwood Academy Valley, Longcheng High School’s visit will provide a fully immersive British educational experience. A formal welcome assembly and celebration event will mark the strengthening of ties between Worksop and Shenzhen.

To facilitate the visit, Outwood students will apply for roles to mentor and guide their Chinese peers. Delving into British school life, visitors will join daily lessons, enrichment activities, and collaborative workshops.

Carolyn Blundell, community executive principal at OGAT, said:

“We are delighted to be offering these educational, cultural and innovative opportunities for our students, and there is so much we can learn from our counterparts in China. I really hope that these opportunities help support our young people with their sense of global citizenship.”

The partnership extends well into the future, with over 20 Year 8 students already committed to a seven-day cultural expedition to China in April 2027. Supported by the GSA, the itinerary balances "in-school immersion" with visits to world-renowned landmarks, including Yu Gardens, the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, and the Zhujiajiao Ancient Water Town. They will experience modern marvels such as The Bund, the Lujiazui financial district, and a Huangpu River cruise, and will spend three days at a partner school to experience the Chinese education system first-hand.

To ensure these life-changing opportunities are widely available, Outwood has submitted three 'consortium' Turing Funding bids on behalf of its schools in Wakefield, Doncaster, North Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Sheffield. If successful, this funding will significantly subsidise overseas travel for disadvantaged students, reinforcing the Trust’s "Students First" philosophy.