Hautlieu twinned with China school

08 August 2011

Hautlieu School will be twinned with Beijing Ba Yi Middle School in China following an agreement with the Chinese Ministry of Education.

Assistant Chief Minister, UK and International Relations, Senator Freddie Cohen, proposed the formal twinning of Hautlieu school with a Chinese secondary school at a meeting at the Ministry of Education in Beijing in June. Senator Cohen has since received the agreement of the Director of the Division of European Affairs, Yang Xiaochun, to the twinning of Hautlieu with Beijing Ba Yi Middle School.

Beijing Ba Yi Middle School was established in March 1947 in Fuping County of Hebei Province and moved to Beijing in 1949. It is now one of the key high schools of Haidian District, Beijing. There are 3,445 students at the school as well as 268 teachers and 108 teaching assistants and administration staff.

Senator Cohen said: "I am delighted that Hautlieu will twin with Beijing Ba Yi Middle School. This is a fabulous opportunity for Jersey students to develop an understanding of the largest developing economy in the world through interaction with Chinese students. Jersey is engaged in a programme to develop our connections in the Far East and empowering our students to participate in this way will expand their career opportunities. This is another successful outcome arising from our recent visit to China."

China trip

The request from Hautlieu for a formal twinning with a Chinese secondary school was reached following a trip to China by 80 students that had been organised with the help of the Chinese Embassy in London.

Jersey’s links with international schools will continue to be developed. Last week, Senators Cohen and Ozouf discussed a similar project with the Prime Minister of Malta.

Headteacher of Hautlieu School, Lesley Toms, said: "We are delighted that a partner school has been selected and that the twinning of Hautlieu with Beijing Ba Yi Middle School has been formally agreed. This is an important next step in our ongoing programme to develop our students’ international outlook. It is particularly pleasing that our partner school is located in Beijing as we made many contacts in the city during our last visit to China. We look forward to beginning a dialogue with Beijing Ba Yi Middle School and to making plans for a first visit within the next couple of years."