Visit to China proves an 'unforgettable' experience

Pupils from Firs Primary And Griffe Field Primary during their trip to Hefei in China

- 

PUPILS from two Derby primary schools have returned from a once-in-a-lifetime trip to China with a fresh appreciation for the relaxed and nurturing atmosphere of their own classrooms.

Twenty-four year five pupils from Firs Primary and Griffe Field Primary - both part of Derby Diocesan Academy Trust (DDAT) - travelled to Hefei through the Global School Alliance, where they connected with local students and learnt about their culture.

During their visit, the children, aged nine and ten, explored Chinese traditions from martial arts and calligraphy to clay modelling and board games but what struck many was the contrast between the strict discipline in Chinese schools and the more relaxed atmosphere of home.

Dawid Laskowski, of Firs Primary, said: “The schools in China were really strict, and their days were much longer than ours. I really missed how relaxed and personal it feels at our school here, we get to talk to our teachers more and have proper relationships with them.

There are yellow lines marked on every corridor floor, guiding exactly where students had to walk.