Chinese taught ways of the west
Reporter: Janice Barker
Date published: 26 November 2009
PRESENTATION . . . Ian Mulley, left, hands a painting to Mr Chen, the head of Tianyi High School in Xishan
The world’s biggest developing economy is asking a Chadderton school for advice on how to change its teaching methods via links with Chinese students and teachers.
Radclyffe School’s assistant head teacher Ian Mulley has recently been a guest in Xishan, China, a district which already has economic links with Oldham.
The visit has resulted in a sister school agreement between the Hunt Lane school and Tianyi High School, in Jiangsu province.
Radclyffe has already hosted Chinese teachers, who have observed lessons this year on several visits.
Mr Mulley’s return visit included an educational conference for Chinese professionals wanting to know how the curriculum is developed in England.
Mr Mulley said: “They are interested in a combination of the way we teach and what we teach.
“They have massive schools in this part of China — Radclyffe would be a small part of one. One had 10,000 students and 870 staff.
“Teaching is very formal, but they recognise that they have to change and become more open.”
American and Australian professionals are also giving them help, he said, and the opportunities the sister school agreement means for Radclyffe will be amazing, he added.
“This is an opportunity for some of our staff and children to be ahead of the game.
“Not only is there potential inward investment for Oldham, but there will be educational links and cultural links, and China is the economy of the future.
“We are interested in some Mandarin teaching, and if our students can engage with China, and perhaps visit and make contacts, that will be even better.”
And he said his visit dispelled some of the myths there are about China: “It is a fascinating place.
“There is a lot of money and everybody was working. There is a huge amount of development and everyone was bustling and seems happy.
“It was not at all a regimented society, they are open to change and I was very, very impressed.”
The sister school agreement adds to Radclyffe’s international links with Bolivia and other schools in Europe.
The visit earlier this month was funded by the Chinese government and other delegates included June Smith, Oldham Council’s business development officer.
