Two teachers have travelled almost 5,700 miles to share their maths expertise as part of a Stevenage school’s project establishing links with their Chinese counterparts.

The Comet: Shanghai teacher Xiaobao Wu gives Nobel students Connor Gray and Alfie Kassir a few pointers during his visit to Stevenage.Shanghai teacher Xiaobao Wu gives Nobel students Connor Gray and Alfie Kassir a few pointers during his visit to Stevenage. (Image: Archant)

Peizhen Wang and Xiaobao Wu flew over from Shanghai – China’s largest city – to spend four weeks at The Nobel School, with a series of maths-focused events passing on best practice to primary and secondary teachers in Stevenage and beyond.

“We are absolutely delighted to be part of such a prestigious project,” said Nobel headteacher Martyn Henson. “It will benefit our young people enormously as at the heart of Shanghai maths teaching is that all students can be good at maths – we have a lot to learn.

“Nobel is one of the few schools in Herts that teaches Mandarin Chinese, and we are therefore delighted that two of our teachers have had the opportunity to visit China and that Ms Wang and Mr Wu have spent a really productive four weeks with us.

“This has been really exciting and we will be developing our links with two schools in China, and expect to take our students there next year.”

The Comet: Nobel teacher Dr Irina Tolchenova, Shanghai teacher Xiaobao Wu, Nobel head Martyn Henson, Stevenage MP Stephen McPartland, Nobel chair of govenors Richard Aggus, Shanghai teacher Peizhen Wang and Nobel teacher Jill Borcherds during the visit at the Stevenage school.Nobel teacher Dr Irina Tolchenova, Shanghai teacher Xiaobao Wu, Nobel head Martyn Henson, Stevenage MP Stephen McPartland, Nobel chair of govenors Richard Aggus, Shanghai teacher Peizhen Wang and Nobel teacher Jill Borcherds during the visit at the Stevenage school. (Image: Archant)

Last Thursday saw the latest teachers and guests visit the school with a focus on linking together maths teaching at primary and secondary level.

Stevenage MP Stephen McPartland attended and said: “This is an a fantastic initiative by The Nobel School and one of the many reasons why the school is going from strength to strength. Identifying how difficult many primary school children find the leap to secondary school is incredibly important and tackling these challenges through such innovative projects is really helping to make a difference to each child’s education.”

As the Shanghai teachers’ stay comes to an end, Nobel School maths teacher Jill Borcherds will be giving an official vote of thanks in a reception at the Chinese Embassy in London on Friday.

The Comet: Shanghai teacher Peizhen Wang with Nobel students Jenson Bolton, right, and Regan Barker during her visit to Stevenage.Shanghai teacher Peizhen Wang with Nobel students Jenson Bolton, right, and Regan Barker during her visit to Stevenage. (Image: Archant)