BACK in November 1997, a Tynedale school forged a new relationship with an Asian school, to fit with its existing links in the USA and Germany.

Hexham Middle School's deputy headteacher Peter Williams returned from a two week visit to Dongzhimen Middle School in Beijing, during which he achieved two firsts.

Hexham Courant: Peter Williams discusses the next part of the international project with Ao WenyaPeter Williams discusses the next part of the international project with Ao Wenya (Image: Newsquest)

Not only was Mr Williams the first foreigner the Chinese school had hosted, he was also the first to teach there using Western methods.

Mr Williams, whose main subjects included geography, maths and religious education, taught a new UNICEF and UNESCO-promoted subject in China titled living values - a mix of environmental and social studies.

Hexham Courant: The Beijing School’s name plateThe Beijing School’s name plate (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Williams' wife and travelling companion, Carmen, is a supply teacher at Hexham Middle and she taught English lessons.

Hexham Courant: Senior children meet at lunchtime to discuss the Brahma Kumaris Living Values Global Initiative with Peter WilliamsSenior children meet at lunchtime to discuss the Brahma Kumaris Living Values Global Initiative with Peter Williams (Image: Newsquest)

One reason why the Beijing school was keen to nurture new relations was the fact that Hexham Middle was one of a few in the UK to teach living values, as part of an 18-month trial project.

Hexham Courant: School lunch costs 10p, and in the staff dining room are Carmen Williams, teacher of English as a foreign language, Zhao Shumei Miss Luxia and Miss Doushuying. Staff have to bring and wash their own dishesSchool lunch costs 10p, and in the staff dining room are Carmen Williams, teacher of English as a foreign language, Zhao Shumei Miss Luxia and Miss Doushuying. Staff have to bring and wash their own dishes (Image: Newsquest)

One dissimilarity between the schools Mr Williams noted was the size difference.

The Chinese school was three times bigger than Hexham Middle School with 1,800 pupils compared to 600, and 50 pupils in a class while Hexham had a maximum of 30 per class.

Hexham Courant: A class of 54 pupils with six staff in attendanceA class of 54 pupils with six staff in attendance (Image: Newsquest)

It had more than six times as many teachers, with 180 compared to 27. 

Mr Williams' said teachers there are permitted to take two 45-minute lessons a day, and are expected to devote the rest of their time to marking, research and preparation.

Hexham Courant: Morning break exercises involve all children, for around 15 minutes and anyone can join in, including English visitorsMorning break exercises involve all children, for around 15 minutes and anyone can join in, including English visitors (Image: Newsquest)

This was Mr Williams' second visit to the school. He first went in 1995 after being invited by Ao Wenya, a senior English teacher.

They met at an international conference in China, held as part of the United Nations' 50th anniversary celebrations.

Two years on from that meeting, the two schools set up the first British Council-sponsored joint English and Chinese school teaching project, in the form of a three-year exchange programme. 

The first part of this was the Williams' time in Beijing, which was followed by a visit to Hexham by the Chinese school a month later.

Mrs Wenya and a colleague visited Hexham First School and Queen Elizabeth High School, with trips to universities including Newcastle, Durham and Sunderland.

Sightseeing visits included Hexham Abbey and Hadrian's Wall.