Chester goes to China
Students from two Chester schools spent an exhilarating half-term break in China, studying Mandarin and learning about Chinese culture. Pupils from The Queen"s School and Upton High School flew to Beijing where they met up with other groups from the UK for an Autumn Camp and spent three days visiting the main sights of the Chinese capital. As well as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace, they were also able to admire the buildings designed specially for this summer"s Olympic Games. The Bird"s Nest Stadium and the Water Cube are now firmly established as part of the tourist trail and the students were able to enjoy a stunning light and water spectacular in the Water Cube.
At the headquarters of their Chinese hosts, Hanban, all the UK participants in the Autumn Camp were welcomed by the Director. Queen"s School headmistress, Mrs Catherine Buckley, responded in both Mandarin and English on behalf of the British organisers, the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust.
The Upton and Queen"s groups then flew off to different provinces to begin their language study and to learn about different aspects of Chinese culture including calligraphy, history, tai chi and kung fu. China"s national sport, table tennis, also featured on their timetable.
The Queen"s School group was based in Xi"an, China"s ancient capital and home of the first emperor and his army of terracotta warriors.
" It was an amazing sight" said Year 8 pupil Chloe Stratton. “Each soldier has a different face and no two look alike. I think China is a fascinating country and I would love to learn a lot more about it in the future”. " The food was brilliant too," added fellow Year 8 student, Ellen Falkingham, “although the duck tongue soup was definitely an acquired taste!”
The girls will have another chance to pick up their chopsticks when Queen"s celebrates its recognition as a Confucius Classroom- one of only 12 schools in the UK to have been given this accolade.
Ends: 332 words
For more information and photos (300dpi) visit:
http://www.marketingprojects.co.uk/clientpo/the-queens-school-chester-cheshire
Caption -
Queen"s School Year 8 girls in front of the statue of Confucius that stands before the Dachengmen (the Gate of Great Accomplishment) in the Temple of Confucius, Beijing
Press Contact:
Mrs Jane Taylor, The Queen’s School, City Walls Road, Chester, CH1 2NN
Tel: 01244 312078 Fax: 01244 321507
Email: jtaylor@queens.cheshire.sch.uk
The Queen’s School, Chester, Cheshire is one of the country’s leading independent schools for girls aged 4 – 18. We have a nationally renowned reputation for academic excellence and our girls consistently achieve outstanding results at GCSE and A level.
Our school celebrates young women and their potential. We prepare our girls to face their future with self-belief, energy and a “can do” philosophy. Academic success is only one aspect of life at Queen’s and all girls are encouraged to explore their abilities, interests and passions in a wide range of extra-curricular activities. From drama, art and music to sports, community work and overseas adventures, the girls benefit from an education of the whole person, experiencing new challenges inside and outside the classroom.
At The Queen"s School, we seek to develop in each student a risk-taking spirit, leadership abilities, confidence and a love of learning. Our individual approach ensures each girl has the support she needs to thrive and succeed throughout her time here.
The school inhabits elegant Georgian and Victorian buildings, situated in a beautiful setting within walking distance of historic Chester. These surroundings prove a constant reminder of the heritage and traditional values that have shaped the school for more than 130 years.
Mrs Catherine Buckley is the headmistress of The Queen’s School with Mrs Felicity Taylor as head of the Lower School on Liverpool Road. The school has a number of bursaries available to very able students.
Past pupils include Beth Tweddle, Olympic Gymnast, Sarah Kelly, founder of the UK’s Neuromuscular Centre for muscular dystrophy and Vivienne Faull, the first woman to become Dean of an English Cathedral.
More information available from www.queens.cheshire.sch.uk
Return to The Queen's School, Chester, Cheshire listings
> Return to Client Press Office
