Leadership Trip to China:

The Leadership Trip to China is a program designed for UK school leaders to visit China, engage with Chinese educators, and observe the local education system. The trip promotes mutual understanding and opens the door for long-term school partnerships.

Success Story:

UK Headteacher Delegation to China — November 2024

In November 2024, UKCEEC organised a 10-day educational delegation for six headteachers from Surrey, England, to visit Guiyang, Chengdu and Beijing for a comprehensive programme of school exchange and professional dialogue.

During the visit, the delegation toured more than ten Chinese primary and secondary schools, engaging in classroom observations, leadership discussions and cultural learning activities. Several schools successfully established sister-school partnerships, marking the beginning of long-term collaboration between UK and Chinese institutions.

Throughout the programme, the participating UK headteachers gained a deeper understanding of China’s education system, including its curriculum structure, teaching methods and approach to student development.

They were particularly impressed by:

the strong emphasis on foundational learning

the integration of culture and community within school life

the scale and diversity of China’s education landscape

the warm hospitality and openness of Chinese educators

The visit provided valuable insights into educational practice from a different cultural and structural context. Many headteachers expressed their intention to bring these new perspectives back to their schools in the UK, enriching their own leadership approach and supporting the development of global citizenship among their students.

This visit forms part of UKCEEC’s ongoing mission to build meaningful and sustainable partnerships between UK and Chinese schools, promoting learning, understanding and cooperation across borders.