Pupils wing across the world

GIFT for afar: the Mayor presents Limehurst pupils, from left to right, Alishyah Warburton, Bethany Ledger, Leon Rostron, Elizabeth Crofts and Kayson Flanagan, with a plaque to take on their travels to China

FIVE pupils from Limehurst primary school are getting ready to fly thousands of miles — to experience life at a Chinese school.

On May 24 pupils Elizabeth Croft, Bethany Ledger, Alishyah Warburton, Kayson Flanagan and Leon Rostron will fly to Nanjing, the capital of China’s eastern Jiangsu province.

The excited youngsters are all currently brushing up on their Chinese before visiting Youfu Primary School, where they will work alongside Chinese pupils.

The five met Mayor of Oldham Ateeque Ur-Rehman, who gave them a plaque to give the Chinese school to celebrate the visit.

Pupil Bethany said: “I can’t wait to see what life is like inside a Chinese school.”

A Chinese co-op offered Limehurst Primary School the chance to visit and experience life in a Chinese school early in 2015. The project hopes to build links between China and Greater Manchester at a cultural and educational level.

Travelling with the pupils are teachers Ian Wilson, Tim Heywood and Rachel Robertson.

Mr Heywood said: “Pupils who showed an interest in going went through a rigorous assessment.

“The five selected will spend a week working alongside Chinese children. They will see some amazing sights and sounds and it will raise their global awareness while allowing them to sample the culture and lifestyle of Nanjing.”

The school has managed to get donations and funding for the flights, while their accommodation is being arranged by the Chinese school.

When they return the group will teach their classmates what they learned. In November, children from China will visit Limehurst to experience life in a British school.