The Launch Ceremony of Strategic Education Partnership of Wellington College Bilingual Hangzhou and China Xiaoshan Science & Technology Polis

On 11th January 2017, Wellington College and China Xiaoshan Science & Technology Polis launched their strategic education partnership to open Wellington College Bilingual Hangzhou in Xiaoshan, Hangzhou. The event marked another major achievement in Sino-British education and cooperation. Many representatives participated, including: Mr John Edwards, Consul General of the British Consulate in Shanghai; Ms Felicity Kirk, Governor of Wellington College; Mr Sheng Yuechun, Secretary of the CPC Xiaoshan District Committee; Mr Wang Min, Deputy Party Secretary of Xiaoshan District Committee and Acting Chief of Xiaoshan District; Mr Ye Jian Hong, Standing Member of CPC Xiaoshan District committee and Director of Xiaoshan Technology Development Zone; Mr Xu Guanju, the Vice Chairman of All-China Federation of Industry & Commerce and Chairman of Transfar Group; Ms Joy Qiao, Chair of Governors of Wellington College China; Ms Helen Kavanagh, Deputy Chair of Governors of Wellington College China and International Business Director of Wellington College, Mr Paul Rogers, Founding British Headmaster of Wellington College Bilingual Hangzhou and Mr Gerard MacMahon, Master of Wellington College International Shanghai.

Wellington College Bilingual Hangzhou will provide a world-class all-round education for pupils aged between 2 to 18 years old. Following the local Zhejiang curriculum framework and coupled with the Wellington identity, values and approach, the new bilingual school is committed to create an immersive English learning environment that combines Wellington's unique holistic education. The College will offer a challenging, invigorating and enjoyable environment based on academic excellence and a wide range of co-curricular activities such as sport, arts and music. The vision is for all pupils to achieve the Wellington Identity; to be Inspired, Intellectual, Independent, Individual and Inclusive. During the ceremony, Mr Paul Rogers, founding British Headmaster of Wellington College Bilingual Hangzhou, was proud to announce that the outstanding interior design and construction team, who previously worked on Wellington schools in Tianjin and Shanghai, are building the very best in educational facilities. He also confirmed that Wellington College Bilingual Hangzhou will officially open its doors to pupils in September 2018 and will offer a world-class bilingual education.

Paul Rogers, Founding British Headmaster of Wellington College Bilingual Hangzhou introduced the project

Campus Photo

Ms Felicity Kirk, Governor of Wellington College commented, “We are pleased to witness that Wellington College supports a local partner by launching this strategic education partnership and strongly believe that the opening of Wellington College Bilingual Hangzhou will become a milestone for Wellington College in its educational journey into China. The unique Wellington curriculum will develop pupils' skills and capabilities essential to their future success.”

Ms Kirk, on behalf of Wellington College in the UK, then officially invited Mr Xu Guanju, to become the Honorary Chairman of Wellington College Bilingual Hangzhou, in recognition of his dedication and generous support to Wellington College. In response, Mr Xu Guanju said, “We chose to cooperate with Wellington College on this bilingual project largely due to our appreciation of the School's mission and ethos. We are confident that the Wellington identity, implemented through all aspects of life at the college, will inevitably lead Chinese pupils towards their success in the 21st century. Many enterprises from Zhejiang are developing an international outlook and now export products around the world and Wellington College is the best school to foster the next generation of local and international talents.”

On behalf of Wellington College, Ms Felicity Kirk invited Xu Guanju to be the Honorary Chairman of Wellington College Bilingual Hangzhou

Mr John Edwards, British Consul General in Shanghai said, “Early 2017 marks the 45th year of Ambassadorial relations between the UK and China and is the second full year of the ‘golden decade’, which was first announced in 2015 during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the UK. Since then, we have taken important steps to strengthen the ties between our two countries,” John Edwards continued, “I am delighted that Wellington College is supporting its local partner Transfar Group to open a bilingual school in Hangzhou for Chinese students and to deliver the Chinese national curriculum with a Wellington flavour and ethos. I trust that China and the UK will strengthen their economic cooperation and trade exchange and hope to see more UK based companies extend their business to Zhejiang, to Hangzhou and Xiaoshan Science & Technology Polis, as well as see Zhejiang and Hangzhou businesses, like Transfar Group, progress to the UK.”

Mr. John Edwards, British Consul General in Shanghai Speech

Mr Julian Thomas, Master of Wellington College, Mr Michael Higgins, Master of Wellington College International Tianjin and Mr Gerard MacMahon, Master of Wellington College International Shanghai sent their congratulation speeches to welcome Wellington College Bilingual Hangzhou as the eighth member of the Wellington family of schools. Following the ceremony, Mr John Edwards, Ms Felicity Kirk and representatives of Wellington College in China visited Transfar Headquarter Exhibition Hall to learn about the city and industry integration plans for China Xiaoshan Science & Technology Polis Core Zone. As an “international city on the bank of Qiantang River and a new business haven in regions south of the Yangtze River” China Xiaoshan Science & Technology Polis is committed to driving urban development with scientific and technological innovation.

Mr John Edwards, Ms Felicity Kirk, representatives of Wellington College in China visited Transfar Headquarter Exhibition Hall