Worksop schools welcome Chinese students for immersive cultural visit
Three schools in Worksop are celebrating after a week of international collaboration. Outwood Academy Portland, Outwood Academy Valley and Outwood Post 16 Centre Worksop hosted a delegation of students and staff from Longcheng High School in Shenzhen, China, on a five-day programme. The immersive visit gave students from both nations an invaluable taste of global citizenship.
The visit officially commenced on Monday, 22nd June, opening with a Welcome Ceremony held at Outwood Academy Valley. The event kicked off with a welcome reception and a student piano performance. Official welcome addresses were delivered by Katy Bradford, Deputy CEO at Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT), and Community Executive Principal Carolyn Blundell, along with a keynote speech by Post 16 student Cameron Holt. The morning concluded with an exchange of gifts and further musical numbers performed by students.
Throughout the week, the visiting students were paired with local Post 16 buddies and student hosts. The visitors experienced a fully immersive look into British education, integrating directly into daily secondary and Post 16 lessons, exploring practical workshops, and attending after-school enrichment activities.
Reflecting on the long-term impact of the partnership, Carolyn Blundell stated:
“The visit proved to be quite an inspirational experience for both students and staff; the warmth with which our students welcomed the Chinese students was quite spectacular. At the end of the week, our Chinese guests were keen to remain with us, and their teachers shared that they had been profoundly positively impacted by their experience of the British education system, with some hoping to return to the UK to undertake their university studies. I do not doubt that the young people of Worksop and Shenzhen also made global connections for life.”
The memorable week concluded on Friday, 26th June, with a Closing Ceremony which included the recital of a poem written by Worksop students, and a special musical performance from the Longcheng High School students, followed by a closing address from Outwood Academy Portland Principal Danielle Sheehan. The exchange concluded with a formal presentation of certificates and gift presentations to celebrate the lasting bonds formed between Worksop and Shenzhen.
This immersive visit marks the first major milestone in an ongoing collaborative exchange programme facilitated alongside the Global School Alliance (GSA). Looking ahead, the Outwood family of Schools has outlined plans for a reciprocal student trip in April 2027, which will see local Year 8 students travel to China for a multi-city cultural expedition and a first-hand immersion experience inside Chinese partner schools.
