Award nod for China trip

PRIDE in Oldham nominees, the trip to China by staff and pupils at Limehurst Primary School. Staff, from left, Rachel Robertson, Ian Wilson (associate head teacher), Tim Heywood. Pupils, from left, Elizabeth Crofts, Leon Rostron, Bethany Ledger, Kayson Flanagan, Alishyah Warburton

AN INTERNATIONAL project which saw a group of Year 5 youngsters spend a week at a primary school in China has been nominated for a Pride in Oldham award.

Limehurst Primary School in Limeside established links with the Youfu Primary School in Nanjing and saw five of its pupils experience life in a Chinese school at the end of May 2016.

Before being selected to go on the trip, the five pupil ambassadors had to take part in interviews and presentations to school governors and a head teacher from a different school explaining why they should be selected.

And, on their return, they shared what they had learned with fellow students and teachers including teaching Limehurst students a traditional Chinese Jasmine dance.

Ian Wilson, associate head teacher, organised the visit and nominated the project for a Pride in Oldham.

He said the trip of a lifetime not only expanded the pupils' cultural knowledge, but boosted their confidence, gave them a wider global point of view and helped them to become more mature students. He said: "As far as I'm aware, we are only one of two state primary schools in the country to run an exchange trip with a school in China.

"Our pupils went through a rigorous selection process and the final five were a real credit to the school.

"Their behaviour was absolutely fantastic and they came back to Oldham ready to teach their school friends about all they had learned.

"A special mention must go to the school's IT technician Tim Heywood and Year 5 teacher Rachel Robertson who were a great help.

"Everyone involved in the project really deserves the nomination."