St Bees School welcomed Chinese government officials to West Cumbria to talk about how to strengthen their links.

The officials, from Pudong New District in Shanghai, which is one of the largest areas in China with five million people, were invited to talk about summer programmes, teacher training and the exchange of teaching staff.

Full Circle, which runs St Bees, announced earlier this year that it had opened two schools in China.

Laurence Gribble, deputy head of St Bees School, said: “St Bees/Full Circle is forging links between international education powerhouses and Copeland.

"We are aiming to bring the best of international education to Copeland and to

offer our local students outstanding global opportunities.”

Gao Debiao, deputy party secretary of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Pudong New Area, said: “There are many strengths in the education systems of both China and the UK.

"We have much to learn from each other for the benefit of all our students.

“St Bees is a very beautiful school in a wonderful environment."

Copeland MP Trudy Harrison also met with the Chinese delegates at St Bees School.

She said: “It is always a pleasure to visit St Bees to see the school growing and developing with new ideas and partnerships. The fusion curriculum combining renowned eastern academic success with western creativity, problem-solving and resilience is a game changing concept for education worldwide.

“The leadership team at St Bees School has created a high-quality teaching environment which feels nurturing and really ambitious. I wish the school every success and look forward to keeping up with progress."

St Bees School recently opened two new two offspring schools in China – a primary school in Schijazhuang in the Hebei Province and a high school in Dongguan in the Guangdong Province – both of which will take the St Bees name.