The �rst two weeks in February 2015, represented a milestone in the history of Winchmore School. We welcomed twenty two very special visitors from The Shunde Number 1 Experimental Middle School, China, for a ten day educational exchange visit. The main purpose behind the exchange was to develop and deepen our partnership, with a view to sending Winchmore students and sta� to study in Shunde.

The Headteacher from Shunde, Ms Lin, her senior leaders and a group of eighteen students spent the fortnight in London, working with En�eld students and teachers, and visiting famous landmarks in London and the South East.

Our Chinese visitors told us how overwhelmed they were by their stay. This included an overnight stay in lakeside log cabins, a special ‘Bugsy Malone’ welcome, Italian biscuit baking, making pottery souvenirs, building human sculptures, and visits to Alexandra Palace and the Tottenham Hotspur Football ground. In School the Chinese students shadowed our students in lessons, competed at basketball, table tennis and football, and shared meals, break times and assemblies together.

An important component of their stay was with our students’ families, as their host family, which enabled them to experience real life in the UK. The part that host families played in this exchange was invaluable and we are eternally grateful and indebted to them for their wholehearted contribution. The way in which they opened up their hearts and homes, and their unswerving support and enthusiasm for the exchange has been without doubt a major key to its success.

A LONG AND FRUITFUL PARTNERSHIP

Jim OwenHeadteacher of Winchmore School

Every moment of the exchange was recorded in countless speeches, photographs, poems, diaries, blogs and newsletters. It has been captured on mobile phones, tablets, videos and via all forms of social media. What you are about to read, is the collective diary of our exchange. A chronological narrative of what happened, and some re�ections and thoughts about some of the highligts.

We hope you �nd it interesting, and also hope that we have done justice to the exchange, our students and teachers, both in terms of the planning, the events, the impact and the aftermath! Thank you to all our sta�, families and children who made the exchange experience truly magical. This is a major step forward for our school. Without a shadow of doubt it has been one of the most exciting, rewarding and inspiring adventures that Winchmore has embarked upon. We could not have done it without the support, cooperation and enthusiasm of all our students, and we look forward to building on it, together, in the future.

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Unpacking China in their Lakeside CabinsSunday 1st February

As the coach drove over the little humped backed bridge at the gates of the Youth Hostel Association (YHA), Cheshunt, the sense of expectation and excitement was intense, unmistakable. One by one, our Chinese guests were welcomed. Dwarfed by giant suitcases, they made their way towards their lakeside, log cabins. As they wrestled with their luggage there was a frenzy of photo snapping, an early sign of their determination to capture every aspect of this momentous adventure. From the frost on the trees, to the warmth of their cosy log cabins, not an image was lost. By 9pm our Chinese partners were asleep on their feet. Time to rest and relax, in readiness for their �rst day with Winchmore students.

UNPACKINGDAY1

Home for the next two days

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Monday 2nd February

DAY2

After a few hours’ sleep, and a full English breakfast, our Chinese guests made their way to the large conference studio, to await the arrival of the host students from Winchmore School.

There was an immediate bonding when the students from both schools met face to face. This was helped with earlier contact via pen pal letters and some intermittent Skyping. Energetic games and competitions helped to overcome shyness and build friendships.

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GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER

On arriving at Winchmore school we knew that the �rst impression would be vital to a successful exchange. All sta� and students were well primed for the visit. Winchmore teachers had visited Shunde School on two occasions in the previous year. Teacher relationships and expectations were already established. Winchmore students had been learning Mandarin. Assemblies and lessons had been presented on Chinese culture. School signs and key messages were sub-titled in Mandarin. Displays and notice boards re�ected Chinese themes. Our exchange motif, was of children dancing together on a hump backed bridge that linked London and Beijing. ( See the front cover of this booklet ) The image was silhouetted against a golden sunset and clear blue skies. The poster extended a very warm welcome to the head teacher Ms Lin and her party, with the caption ‘Let’s enjoy working together’.

WELCOMES SHUNDEWINCHMORE

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The Chinese students toured the school. They passed through corridors, and entered some classrooms. They were greeted with wide beaming smiles, friendly waving, and a chorus of welcome and hellos, even the occasional chanting of 你好 ! Ni hao! Ni hao ma! The Chinese children responded with equal fervour. Later in the day, an English teacher commented, that as the children passed each other on the corridor one of the Chinese boys came to a narrow point, where a girl was coming from the opposite direction. He stepped back and bowed. The girl was very �ustered. She told her teacher how surprised and charmed she was. The English boys just tend to barge pass everyone on their way to the football �eld.

你 好∨

ni hao∨

From the moment our Chinese visitors entred the school, it was clear that all the planning and preparation was about to pay o�. A cascade of banners, gifts and photographs created an air of real excitement as Mr Owen, led the reception committee which formally welcomed our guests to the school.

FIRST PHOTO CALL

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The visit concluded in the Palm Court tea rooms. This location has been the set for many photo and �lm shoots. As the students enjoyed a selection of refreshments, they were approached by another customer who was enjoying a cream tea with her family.

Out of the blue she commented on how lovely our students were. She referred to the whole group of Chinese and English. “It is refreshing to see so many youngsters relaxing and chatting in such a mature and considerate manner. They are a credit to their school, their families and themselves”. She thought we were all part of the same school.

The day ended on such a high, in so many di�erent ways.

ALEXANDRA PALACE

To end the day, the students were taken for tea at Alexandra Palace, the famous hill top venue in North London with some of the best panoramic views of the capital.

In 1936 ‘Ally Pally’ as it came to be known, was the home of the world's �rst regular public television service, operated by the BBC. The students started to Skype their families in Shunde, so that their family could see the London panorama for themselves.

Tuesday 3rd February

The ice was well and truly broken. Two large school mini buses were packed to the ceiling with our Chinese students and their luggage. As they drove through the gates and over the humped back bridge, they waved their good byes to their lakeside log cabins. They were making their way to their �rst full day at Winchmore School.

DAY3BREAKING THE ICE

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At school, the host students and their Chinese partners found themselves in the school’s ‘state of the art’ food technology suite. Within a matter of minutes, with aprons tied tight, they were measuring the ingredients to bake bite size Italian biscuits.They worked together, whisking eggs, �our and sugar into a large bowl, before pouring the mixture slowly into another bowl of warm melted butter. They cut up and designed their dough mixture into many di�erent shapes and sizes. Delicately, they arranged the dough onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper, and wrote their names in pencil on the top corner of the parchment.

This was the perfect opportunity to work and learn together. Learning baking, to get to know each other, and to savour the moment, as well as the biscuits. One of the Chinese boys gave his Italian biscotti a Chinese theme, inspired by the pastry designs created by his father who is an acclaimed chef in Shunde. By the end of the morning, we completed our �rst major activity. Chinese students making Italian biscuits in an English classroom.

TOGETHERBAKING

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After cooking for themselves, the students were being cooked for, by our executive chef and his team in the main school restaurant. Everybody was together in a busy place at one of the busiest times of the day, lunchtime. A wide range of European food was provided, which Ms Lin and her colleagues were keen to sample, however, the traditional Chinese stir-fry remained overwhelmingly the most popular option for the students...at the beginning of the week at least.

After lunch our visitors and their host partners went to the school library. At the same time the other 1,500 Winchmore students went about their normal, noisy, high-octane lunch break. The plan was to keep our Chinese students with their host partners in the library for their �rst lunch time. This was to give them time to sit, read, chat and generally settle in. But they were having none of that! They had been in school for less than three hours, and were really keen to be outside in the sunshinewith all the other Winchmore students. It was something of a leap of faith, but, with terms and conditions, we let them go into the playgrounds. Within �ve minutes of doing the lunchtime stroll, it was clear that it had been a good judgement call.

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The teacher on duty commented ‘I was amazed at how students, who were culturally very di�erent and separated by thousands of miles could engage so quickly and seamlessly in a simple sporting activity like basketball and create such good relationships’.

As the Chinese students walked around the playground, the curiosity was just too great. A new frontier of Chinese-Anglo relations was established. Some of the boys were immersed in outdoor table tennis, but the real surprise occurred down in our tennis court playground.

SPONTANEOUSEVENT

Watching three star players from the Shunde No1 Experimental Middle School compete with all their might, against the Winchmore School Basketball team, was a wonder to behold. This was not a planned event. It was spontaneous. Nobody coached, coaxed, persuaded or bribed them to make this match. It just happened.

The induction day, for our Chinese guests ended with a matinee performance of the big hits from our school production ‘Bugsy Malone’.

The school hall, had been arranged in the style of night club cabaret with table linen, �owers and refreshments. This was in keeping with theme of the gangster musical.

A SPECTACULARMUSICAL WELCOME

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The visit concluded in the Palm Court tea rooms. This location has been the set for many photo and �lm shoots. As the students enjoyed a selection of refreshments, they were approached by another customer who was enjoying a cream tea with her family.

Out of the blue she commented on how lovely our students were. She referred to the whole group of Chinese and English. “It is refreshing to see so many youngsters relaxing and chatting in such a mature and considerate manner. They are a credit to their school, their families and themselves”. She thought we were all part of the same school.

The day ended on such a high, in so many di�erent ways.

What delights would tomorrow hold?

Our visitors then returned the compliment and sang for Winchmore. Introductions complete, this was the occasion when our Chinese guests, their student hosts, and host families met each other and made their way home. On leaving the hall, the students picked up their Italian biscuits, baked earlier in the day. Each parcel neatly wrapped in parchment with their names clearly written in the corner.

The feel good factor was reinforced when Mr Owen ful�lled a promise, and played his electric guitar. As he played, the children both English and Chinese burst into song together.

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Wednesday 4th February

DAY4SIGHTSEEING

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The Chinese students were back in school in time for the �rst lesson. All present and correct. However, lessons were the last thing on their minds. One by one they were ushered onto a coach which took them into London, and beyond for plenty of sightseeing.

Thursday 5th February

Thursday saw everybody back in school. The �rst two lessons were dedicated to a special activity which re�ected particular strengths of the school. As an Arts College, it was decided to arrange a pottery workshop in the Arts faculty. Our Chinese students were going to make small souvenir tiles which included engraved highlights of London’s greatest landmarks.

DAY5POTTERY WORKSHOP

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For two hours they worked on their clay tiles, they began by making shapes which resembled their chosen London landmarks. Hesitantly they engraved lines and curves into the surface of the clay. Images of Big Ben, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, London Bridge emerged, and with surprising accuracy.

They started to customize their tiles with more personal motifs including letters, numbers and names which saw a merging together of East and West.

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If anyone was to ask why this had been a particularly successful session, the answer was simple. There couldn’t have been a better preparation for this task than the previous day’s �rst-hand experience.

Feeling the turn of the wheel on the London Eye, gazing high into the sky at the Gherkin, or hearing the chimes of Big Ben.

Experience will always be the greatest resource for learning. Wasn’t this activity a perfect metaphor for the whole of our exchange visit? Living for learning. But leaving aside the philosophy, here, today, in 2015, the students had produced something simple, personal and tangible. One could almost guarantee, that in many years to come, their souvenir tiles, will be dusted down and passed on to bemused grandchildren.

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Arragnements were made for our visitors to shadow their host partners in their lessons. Teachers had at least one week’s notice of the lessons which would be visited by a Chinese student. There was no special planning or preparation for this drop-in, beyond that of making sure that an extra chair was available for the visitor.

After the lessons, teachers and students shared some feedback. The Chinese students noticed that:

IN LESSONS

SHUNDE STUDENTSSHADOW THEIR WINCHMORE HOSTS

The class size in Winchmore tended to be smaller than in Shunde. There seemed to be more opportunity for the Winchmore students to work together with less direction from the teacher.

Some Chinese students felt that in Winchmore, there was less dependency on textbooks, and more discussion and use of the internet.

Winchmore students walked to their teachers’ classroom for lessons. In Shunde it is the other way round. When answering a question in the Winchmore classroom, the students simply raised their hand to respond. In Shunde, they would always stand, wait until invited, and then respond.

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The Chinese teachers observed a number of lessons which were being shadowed. The Chinese teachers noticed a genuine sense of friendship and support among the students. However, it ran deeper and further than that, and something was observed that had not been anticipated at the planning stage. This related to those students who were not directly involved in the exchange. Although many students may have felt that the part they played in the exchange was marginal, it was inspiring to see virtually all students becoming animated and involved in so many activities. They were keen to work with, learn from, help, guide and support their Chinese visitors.

A number of teacher training activities had been organized for the teachers from Shunde. Miss Lin and her team had the opportunity for a question and answer session with team leaders from across Winchmore School.

Assistant Head Teacher, Mr Sim, delivered a workshop session on independent learning. The focus of the session was to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of a �xed mindset, as opposed to a growth mindset, and to explore how a growth mindset can help us to remain creative and de�ne progress on many di�erent levels.

SHUNDE TEACHERS OBSERVE WINCHMORE CLASSES

SHARINHG GOOD PRACTICEBETWEEN TEACHERS

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Our Chinese teachers delivered lessons to Winchmore students on Chinese festivals, with a particular emphasis on the Chinese New Year. An English lesson, a Mandarin, art and music lesson were taught by Chinese teachers.

At the end of the morning, the Chinese students had been time- tabled for a double lesson in the Drama studio. They were going to work with their host partners to create human sculptures representing di�erent parts of the human body. Teams of students worked closely together to produce a ten person model of the human lungs, heart and stomach. It has been said, if you want to learn about the heart, you have to become the heart. That was certainly happening in this session.

The students wrestled among themselves, literally, and also with words, sounds, movement and mime. Cultural di�erences and inhibitions melted away as the students pushed and pulled, heaved and howled, stretched and strained in creating living, working body parts. For the �nal performance, nobody could be in any doubt which organ was which. The only regret? Not enough time to bring all those organs together to produce China’s �rst ever living, breathing British Frankenstein.

SHUNDE TEACHES MANDARIN AND MUSIC

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Friday 6th February

DAY6 Highlands School is one of our secondary partner schools. We wanted our Chinese guests to have a sense of di�erent types of school environments. They had the warmest of receptions from the Highlands leadership team. Gifts were exchanged, tea was o�ered and a school tour was provided, which allowed plenty of opportunity to give information and ask questions.

The main activity brought our visitors and the Highlands students together to do some traditional Chinese �nger painting. Sta� and students painted stems, branches and leaves, before dipping their thumbs and �ngertips into an array of thimble sized paint pots. They �ngerprinted a range of petals to create �ower shapes, which hovered gently on and around the twisted branches.

Each �ower carried the signature of its creator. By the end of the lesson, a colourful tree had appeared, in full blossom. On one level, this could be said to represent a family of new found friends. It certainly indicated progress and learning. At the very least a great sense of friendship and fun had surfaced. Doing something di�erent with someone di�erent, yet, at the same time, everybody coming together as one, through nature and art.

This was a particularly special event for Highlands School as it seeks to nurture and develop a partnership with China. Our collaborative �nger painting venture, though, some might say, no more than blink of the eye, established a communion and harmony which ran deep with all those involved. Actions speak louder than words, and in two hours, the students and sta� from Highland School, had a�liated themselves to a partnership with Shunde. From small acorns great oaks grow.

你好 ! Ni hao! Ni hao ma!

HIGHLANDS SCHOOL

CHINESE FINGER PAINTING

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Monday 9th February

The �nal full day with Winchmore School was to be as busy and eventful as any of the previous days. Tinged, maybe with a hint of sadness, as this great experience drew to a close. The morning began with a visit to High�eld Primary School, our partner primary school with whom we share strong links both geographically and historically.

High�eld School was celebrating their annual Mother Language Day. By coincidence, it was particularly special to be able to involve our Chinese visitors in this celebration. Following a very warm welcome, by Ms Kamel the head teacher, and her leadership team, our guests were organized into pairs and went into reception classes across the school, where they could watch and participate in the teaching and learning of English. The morning was rounded o� in the school hall, with music, singing, speeches, refreshments and photographs. To top it all, this visit had been covered by the High�eld poet in residence who watched, pictured and captured the whole event in a poem.

It was a wonderful day and our visitors were impressed with everything they saw, and the warm welcome they received. It was a joy hearing all the High�eld children greet our Chinese guests with “ni hao”.

What a lovely way to start this educational partnership – who knows where it will lead!

DAY7MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY Highfield School

Photo call at Highfield Primary School

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An unforgettable and ‘once in a lifetime’ experience, particularly the photograph with the FA Cup, and Glen Hoddle hovering in the background.

By late afternoon, their smiles could have been measured on the Richter scale as they absorbed the magni�cence of the huge, historic pitch and stadium of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.

The last treat for our guests which was a closely guarded secret was ......

A visit to

White Hart Lane,

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club

OUR FAREWELL DINNERMonday Evening 9th February

Monday evening brought the whole exchange visit to its grand �nale. The farewell ceremony, including a cocktail reception and dinner was held in the lavish surroundings of the Royal Overseas League (ROSL), a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace. The ROSL is a well established organization dedicated to promoting international friendship across the world.

The grandeur of the Rutland and Bennet Clark rooms, with their ornate mirrors, huge marble �re places, elegant Georgian windows with spectacular views across Green Park, provided the perfect setting to bid our farewells and provide the ceremonial seal to our partnership.

DAY8

This was an opportunity for host families, teachers and students to talk about and re�ect upon their exchange experience, as well as prepare to say their goodbyes.

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The cocktail reception was followed by the formal, ceremonial part of the evening which included the signing of the memorandum of understanding. The memorandum of understanding in both English and Chinese, was presented in lustrous red and gold folders.

First, to send Winchmore students and sta� to study in Shunde No. 1 Experimental Middle School.

Second, to develop and deepen the partnership between Shunde No. 1 Experimental Middle School and Winchmore, and to explore and develop the relationship between Shunde No. 1 Experimental Middle School and High�eld School and Highlands School.

Third, to communicate more through Skype networks and in other ways

Fourth to explore the feasibility of commercial sponsorship to support our exchange programme, and aim to promote mutual development in economy and education.It was agreed that the details of the programme will be �nalized by the end of the summer term, with an Action Plan for year 2015-2016 to be completed by July 2015.

AGREEMENT

Ms Lin, Mr Owen and Miss Kemal signed the documents, sealing our partnership with an exchange of handshakes. The head teachers gave short speeches which demonstrated their commitment and support for the main objectives listed in the memorandum.

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A turn-of the century embroidered opera bag with gold chain, for Ms Lin

Dinner and a series of celebratory gambay toasts, marked many special moments throughout the exchange. There were votes of thanks, exchanges of gifts, and �nal friendly speeches.

Winchmore wanted the parting gifts to be a token of gratitude and appreciation for everything Shunde has done, and also to capture some of the magic of our last ten days. In the Winchmore foyer, the Chinese display cabinet is packed full with colourful gifts from Shunde, both ancient and modern. It was now, for Winchmore, to return the gesture, with four strange and wonderful gifts which we hope and believe convey a sense of English mystery and tradition. It wasn’t such a matter of us �nding the gifts, but the gifts �nding us.

GIFTS

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An antique English teapot for Leanna. A vintage cut glass perfume bottle for Ms Long. An old, ornate silver roll top caviar, butter dish for Candy… all unique, all antique and all bearing long histories of old English families.

Our exchange visit had been a mini renaissance for all our schools. If the students were a little shy at the beginning of the exchange, they were articulate, con�dent and empowered by the end of it. We know that whole families have made lifelong friendships. The same can be said for all the teachers involved. An unexpected bonus from this experience is the way in which it has brought three of our local schools closer together.

There is a lot of hardship in today’s world, and although it may seem like a drop in the ocean, we cannot underestimate the sense of learning, kindness, mutual trust and understanding that our exchange visit has generated.

For now, we bid each other farewell and goodnight, in the knowledge that rather than coming to the end, this is only the beginning.

Gambay!

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THE CLOSINGSPEECH

Tuesday 10th February

The coach, which was to take our Chinese guests on a sight-seeing trip to Oxford, drew up to the school at 8.30. After Oxford they would �y back home. The Winchmore host students had been excused from their �rst lesson. This was the �nal opportunity to say farewell.

With cases and luggage, which seemed to have doubled in size, waiting in the school reception area, farewell protocols were taking place in the main hall. One by one Mr Owen called the Chinese students to the stage. On shaking their hands he handed them a small parcel which contained a Winchmore sports shirt, a pen, a memory stick, a copy of our welcome poster, a copy of the week’s itinerary, a certi�cate of achievement and their bubble wrapped hand-made souvenir tiles.

There were more photographs and �nal speeches from Mr Owen and Ms Lin.

DAY9FOND FAREWELLS

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Mr Owen thanked and commended all the students for coming to Winchmore and for their enthusiasm, positivity and kindness.

‘We have learnt so much from you and your teachers, and we look forward to seeing you in China soon. We are going to nurture and build upon our partnership because there is so much to gain, there are so many mutual bene�ts, some of which we have experienced over the last week or so. Enjoy the rest of your visit, enjoy your �ight home and all the very best for the future’.

Ms Lin also expressed her deep and sincere thanks for making the visit to Winchmore and London so productive and enjoyable.

‘We couldn’t have felt more welcome by your friendliness, enthusiasm and warmth. Thank you for the Mandarin signs and posters. Winchmore students are forward looking, outgoing and talented. We have been particularly impressed by the way in which Winchmore students respected and celebrated shared values and cultural diversity. Winchmore, High�eld, Highlands and Shunde students and teachers have all shared a wide range of purposeful activities together. This was inspirational to be part of, and to observe. We will never forget our visit, and we look forward to seeing you in Shunde soon. We wish you every happiness and success in the future, and thank you again.’

SHARE INSPIRATION

Following rapturous applause, more group photographs, individual and group hugs and good byes, our Chinese friends took their seats on the coach. The frantic waving from the coach windows was prolonged by an oncoming articulated lorry which cornered the coach in its layby for a minute or two. Fortuitous maybe, as two host parents raced to the scene waving lost or forgotten watches, wallets and even a pair of curling tongs. All belongings restored to their rightful owners, the coach pulled away and disappeared into the morning mist.

‘They’ve reduced me to love and tears’ said the host mother who had just returned the watch. There were plenty of other very positive comments about the exchange from the host families, and we conclude our collective diary with their words.

SAYING GOODBYE

‘Great overall experience. Seriously considering going to China now’.

‘Lilly loved having Bebe and Lin to stay, and was

disappointed to see them leave. They have kept

in touch and message each other regularly. Lilly

is having a great time at Winchmore. She has

made some great friends and found a school that

she is proud of and has encouraged and

supported her ambitions and dreams. We cannot

praise the school enough.

‘Really glad we did

it…really interesting

and fun. So many

funny stories to tell.’

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PARENTS’ FEEDBACK

THANK YOU

We are all looking forward to the next Winchmore adventure’.

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