New International Link

Last week we hosted Principal He and Mr Huckabee from Shanghai Aurora Foreign Language Middle School as we start to build international links with schools abroad.

Our Chinese guests met staff and pupils and engaged in interesting discussions about different approaches to education and learning across the world.

Apart from observing a busy week at Forest they experienced a very English tea party (courtesy of Chartwells) at the end of their first day and the visit culminated in the Warden and Principal He signing a Certificate of Friendship, as a sign of our commitment to working together as the partnership develops.

Mandarin has taught in the Prep School for six years now and is part of the Senior School curriculum for the first time this year. We also welcomed Mrs Li Chen to Forest at the start of term as our new Head of Mandarin.

Central to this partnership will be the opportunity, starting in 2019, for Forest pupils and staff to spend time in China honing their language skills and experiencing the ethos of a Chinese school, as well as linking together our teachers across all subject areas to promote our visible learning agenda and give professional opportunities to our staff in the international arena.

In thanking Principal He and Mr Huckerbee for coming to Forest, Mr Cliff Hodges said: ‘As part of Forest’s educational philosophy we believe that it is important as a school that we engage with the international community. One of Forest’s strengths is its diversity as a school community. An international partnership can expand that diversity further and expand that strength by enhancing the education of students and teachers and preparing young people for life in a global economy.’