The Number 6 Middle school is a Language College of about 2000 students. Classes vary in size but most have about fifty students who learn from their teachers and textbooks. The school day starts at 6.30am with lessons for some students and teachers. Many teachers will only have two or three classes to teach in a year. Students study towards a Diploma which will gain them a place in University. Chinese students are extremely industrious.

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Mrs Patey visited China in October 2009 as a result of corresponding with Joy Wu, an English teacher at Number 6 Middle school in Zhangjiakou. Mrs Patey and Joy have been emailing each other for the last 18 months and have been planning how the schools could set up a partnership. The initial contact was made by Dr Geoff Price, who works in the Design Department, on one of his visits to Zhangjiakou. The aim of the partnership will be to develop an understanding of each others’ culture, for teachers to exchange and share good practice and for pupils to email each other, with a longer term goal of exchanging.