A GROUP of trainee teachers brought more than a taste of Asian culture to Tadcaster.

Over the past six weeks Tadcaster Grammar School has hosted five trainee teachers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who had come to the UK, not only to enhance and develop their teaching and also their understanding of British culture.

This is the first time that Tadcaster Grammar has been included in the Government-sponsored Teacher Training Programme, but hopes that it won’t be the last.

During their time at Tadcaster Grammar School the visitors shadowed teachers, discussed approaches to teaching, worked with students and held an open discussion covering a wide range of topics with some members of the Sixth Form.

Based at the University of York, but living with local families, the trainees also made the most of their free time by taking in the sights of London, Edinburgh and York.

Steve Wren, assistant head teacher for teacher development at the school and the person who co-ordinated the trainees’ timetable, said: “It is currently very popular for politicians to tell schools that we should look to Asia to improve our teaching, but too often in those soundbites, the strengths of our own education system are overlooked.

“Thankfully the rest of the world acknowledges the strengths of teaching in the UK and realises that, as educators, we have much to learn from each other when it comes to effective education.

“Our visitors expressed delight at how warmly they were welcomed into our community by staff and students alike and how grateful they were for the generosity of people in giving up time to discuss and debate issues around education. It was certainly a two-way learning experience."