Our Chinese Partnership

The school signed a partnership with Taicang Experimental Middle School last year to forge both cultural and educational links for students in both schools and as part of our work towards the International Schools Award. 

Taicang is near the Chinese City of Shanghai, and is twinned with Wirral and the partnership recognises that both schools can learn from each other.  Whilst schools in the Shanghai region achieve the world’s highest outcomes in Mathematics, there has been recognition that the British education system is at the forefront in developing problem solving skills and independent learning.

In October, a group of over 40 students and staff visited China and the visit was reciprocated in November when a group of students and staff from the school visited the Wirral.  During both trips students sampled lessons in each school and exchanged gifts.

Nadia Kaye, Trip Leader and Subject Leader for Geography, commented “It was lovely to meet the staff and students so shortly after our visit to the school in October.  We feel that we have begun to lay the foundations to a successful partnership”.  Year 9 student, Brendan, commented, “I really enjoyed meeting the students and I’m looking forward to visiting the school in March.”  

Mrs Johnson commented; “We understood the specific need in Birkenhead to forge links with Taicang. The first phase of the Wirral Waters development is a planned International Trade Centre, and next door to that there are plans for a large automotive supply park, which Wirral Council predict will bring in hundreds of jobs from places like China.”

“Our students will have increased opportunities to be involved in global enterprise, and secondly, companies that come to the area will bring their families, who in turn will appreciate our endeavours to create a knowledgeable and culturally diverse community around the school.”

The performance of high achieving schools here in Wirral is used as a benchmark for many international visitors, and the school has received visits from schools in Denmark, Germany and China in recent years, with visiting Headteachers keen to learn how our school achieves its success.

The school has also introduced a range of cultural activities to increase awareness from using martial arts to help increase fitness, to introducing lessons in Mandarin.

China Visit 2015