Visitors from China - 2015
East meets West
This week we have been hosting our visitors from China. We learned much from their assembly about their schools and they in turn are learning about Primary Education at our school and in the UK in general.
Here are some differences we have found out:
| Ningpo Daxie No1 and 2 | Freezywater St George's | |
| Ages and Number | 6 to 12 - 1200 in each school | 4 to 11 - 240 children |
| School Times | 7.30am to 4pm | 8.55am to 3.20pm (with additional before and after school clubs) |
| Homework | Completed every night - compulsory - texted to paretns (Page of book to do) | English, Maths and RE weekly; reading expected nightly, put in personal organiser, on DB Primary or instructions on sheet |
| Class Size | 40 children - 1 teacher | 30 children - 1 teacher and possibly a learning assistant and additional support |
| Curriculum |
Same for every child in the year Taught as discrete subjects Teacher uses a text book All children follow the same book |
Differentiated for every child in the class Taught as a mixture of discrete subjects and topics Teacher designs each lesson |
| Curriculum Support |
Children have to ask for help and teacher helps in the breaks Parents support at home Children expected to catch up Chidlren must re-sit the year if not attaining |
Many "intervention" programmes before and after school, during school Homework differentiated Parent Consultations |
| Assessment |
Tests every term End of year exams Children told if in top third, middle third or bottom third |
On-going in every lesson and during each week Half-termly teacher assessment summary against curriculum objectives for the year. Half-termly tests in reading, maths and SPaG End of year external exams for Year 6 Additional National Assessments tests in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 |
| Moving to Secondary School | The secondary schools choose the pupils they want to have | Parents choose the secondary school they want for their child. |
We have now begun a three year partneship to learn from each other. More details of the project will be decided before our guests leave. We ish them well on their journey around the UK and hope they enjoy their cultural visits to Manchester and Liverpool before returning home.
