Cultural exchange - St Mary’s Bryanston Square CoE afforded "Confucius Status" by Chinese Ambassador

Published: 22 October 2010
by JOSH LOEB

A CULTURAL exchange took place yesterday (Thursday) when diplomats from Beijing including the Chinese ambassador to the UK descended on a Westminster school. 

St Mary’s Bryanston Square Church of England Primary School in Enford Street, Marylebone, was awarded “Confucius status” at the event – meaning its pupils will now have access to free cultural resources paid for by the Chinese government including information about martial arts and Taoism. 

Pupils packed into the assembly room to hear music and see a plaque being unveiled by Chinese ambassador Liu Xiaoming and Councillor Nick Yarker (see picture).

The school’s headteacher Peter Hadfield said St Mary’s would be attempting to forge even stronger links with China in the future, adding: “We are all now part of a global community and this will help us to develop our children’s understanding of that community and seize the opportunities that it will present to them in future.”