A few weeks ago, as the Lent Term nearly finished at the end of March, our Board members, Dr Catherine Chu and Mr Ian Shi, along with two parent representatives went on a Bromsgrove UK pilgrimage. Later, on Sunday, April 13th, we welcomed the Headmaster of Bromsgrove School UK Mr Michael Punt, and the Assistant Head of Admissions Ms Rachel Scannell on BMH campus.
Although the two schools are 8,000 kilometers apart, we feel that we are part of a family, like two branches growing from the same tree. The two schools band together, exploring collaboration opportunities and innovative education approaches, ready to make history.
During our March visit to Bromsgrove School UK, our board members and the parent representatives enjoyed a very busy schedule from observing classroom teaching in action to talking to teachers and students in great detail. They genuinely immersed themselves in the valuable experience which only a world-class private school can offer. The authentic British style education and the poised demeanor of both faculty and students left everyone in awe of the unique charm of this centuries-old school.
⌈ Even at the end of term, when most teenagers are counting down the minutes to break, these young men and women were engaged and radiating a quiet confidence—the kind that doesn’t shout, “look at me, look at me”, but commands respect.⌋
Dr Catherine Chu, Executive Director of BMH, shared that what impressed her most was the students themselves—they not only demonstrated outstanding academic achievements but also possessed inspiring gravitas and character.
For parents, the great learning atmosphere never ceased to amaze them. Every teacher they encountered at Bromsgrove School demonstrated extensive experience and a passion for their profession. No matter what subject’s lesson they are observing or whether they are at Pre-Prep, Prep School or Senior School, they were deeply impressed by the exceptional learning environment at this top UK school.
⌈ What truly highlighted our visit was the veteran teachers with 20+ years of teaching experience – their professional insights were invaluable. The greatest takeaway has been the privilege of engaging in profound and inspiring dialogues with so many great educators. ⌋
Parents felt privileged to have the opportunity to ask any questions to school leadership, teachers, and students during the visit. These open dialogues deepened their understanding of the close partnership between Bromsgrove School UK and BMH. Both schools work closely in all aspects from school management over curriculum design to teacher training. While each school has its uniqueness, we share the same educational DNA in philosophies and practices when it comes to delivering quality education. This explains why parents felt an instant sense of familiarity upon seeing classroom setups in the UK that were similar to those in Shenzhen. And the students there were wearing the same genuine smiles, radiating confidence - a touching testament to the schools' shared vision.
After the pandemic, The UK board members continued with the tradition of visiting us twice a year—walking into classrooms to meet our children, engaging with teachers and parents, and sharing the most up-to-date educational insights. This year, we had the honour to entertain three important guests, Headmaster Mr. Michael Punt and his wife Mrs. Gill Punt, as well as Assistant Head Ms. Rachel Scannell.
Early in the morning, the Board members arrived at the Quad to watch the Prep School and Junior High School Flag-raising Ceremony. They saw and applauded children striding with pride to raise the national flag and listened to their passionate speeches. The Headmaster also gave a heartwarming speech on pursuing academic excellence and good character.
Their tour continued across the whole school. The UK board members stamped preschool’s phonics workbooks, commended Prep School students' BMH 10th anniversary logo designs, and sat with MHS students to discuss important matters. By asking warm and engaging questions and being good listeners, they showed every student how much they care about our development as a whole and each individual within BMH.
Later in the evening, we had the most pleasant social evening with our UK family and plenty heartstrings moments. Headmaster's vivid recollections of time spent with BMH children, along with his deep understanding of Priority Placement and Student Ambassador programmes, reminded us all of the profound partnership that continues to inspire our community.
Dr. Catherine Chu and the two parent representatives that went to UK, Ms. Wisdom Liu and Ms. Yin Wang, also had a heart-to-heart with everyone at the evening. They shared their firsthand experiences at Bromsgrove UK including the highlights they captured on camera and impressive performance of Bromsgrove students, and the countless acts of kindness from faculty and students there and how grateful they were to be part of this journey, both literally and metaphorically. And we all echoed their sentiment.
This year marks BMH's 10th anniversary—a decade has passed since BMH was founded and became part of Bromsgrove’s 550-year legacy. For BMH, this partnership is far more than just a fancy logo or a British name. We are confident that no other international school in Shenzhen with an oversea partner school enjoys the same close collaboration that we have with Bromsgrove School UK. From annual cross-continental visits to numerous collaboration projects, we take immense pride in being part of the Bromsgrove family!
Looking ahead, our third cohort of Student Ambassadors will soon start Summer Term at Bromsgrove School UK, while preparations for the third cohort of UK Summer School are well underway. We are really excited about the 10th anniversary and the new collaboration opportunities. But let’s not just celebrate 10 years – let’s imagine the next 10. With the foundation we’ve laid, the future isn’t just bright, it’s “brilliant”.
