College to partner with leading overseas school

Furness College students could soon benefit from visits to Shenzhen city as part of a new partnership with a leading school.

A group from Xinzhou Secondary School in Shenzhen, on the border with Hong Kong, has visited the Channelside and Rating Lane campuses to discuss an exchange programme.

Principal Xinyan Zhang was accompanied by her husband, who is also a teacher, and son on the visit, organised by Chair of Governors Jan Fielding.

They were also joined by mutual friend Harrison Gong, who studied A levels in ICT, History and Business at Barrow Sixth Form College in 2006 and helped as programme facilitator.

Jan said she hoped a future partnership would provide a wonderful opportunity for the college to develop links with an outstanding school.

“Any chance for our students to experience a different culture and broaden their horizons is hugely positive,” she said.

Harrison, who now lives near Edinburgh is completing a PhD in International Relations and is about to move to Finland, said it was an inspiring visit.

“I am extremely impressed with the new facilities shown to me today and very optimistic for the future of Furness College to thrive.

“It is fantastic to have the chance to reunite with some of the great teachers of mine from sixth form,” he said.

His tutors during his time at sixth form included history and sociology tutor Steve Buckley and Deputy Head of Sixth Form Helen Gibson at Rating Lane.

Principal and Chief Executive Andrew Wren said he hoped the meeting would lead to an arrangement where students could travel to Shenzhen to experience the education system and local culture.

“We hope future exchange pupils visiting Furness will have the chance to progress their English in our classes for a couple of days, at either of our campuses, before they visit the Lake District, Durham, York and Manchester.”

Photo caption: Xiang ye Li, Qiguang Li, Xinyan Zhang, Andrew Wren, Mark Nicholson, Jan Fielding and Harrison Gong