BLS welcomed a group of Chinese students

BLS welcomed a lovely group of Chinese students aged between 8-15 years old from Shenzhen Middle School, Meixi.

The students took part in an enriching experience with local students from two of the leading primary and secondary schools based here in Bury St Edmunds. The group stayed with local hosts and spent a week following the BLS Integration programme for the second year running and hope to return in Spring 2026. Each guest student was assigned a “buddy” to support them throughout the programme. Local students had the opportunity to learn Mandarin and find out what school is like in China. The Chinese visitors enjoyed engaging in classroom activities and in particular enjoyed Maths lessons due to the increasing similarity of calculation methods used.

The BLS Integration programme is becoming increasingly popular with many schools from Italy, Spain and Thailand taking part this year. It has contributed to the growing acceptance that learning together can enhance an educational experience, adding value to a child’s education and social skills.