Chinese students excelling at ‘peaceful’ Longridge

International Students Series

Peace and an environment that allows us to find oneself and grow are parts of life many take for granted.

But the search for those very things has brought many students from around the world to Longridge Towers School. Jerry and Andy are two students who came from China to Longridge and when asked to identify key differences to their old life, they both independently spoke of finding ‘peace’.

It is perhaps no surprise in Jerry’s case particularly, considering his explosive start in life.

“I was born in a small town in the middle of China,” explained Jerry (pictured below), “but we had to move when I was just a few weeks old because there were earthquakes going on. I was actually born during an earthquake.

“So, we escaped the earthquakes and I grew up in the southeast, across the sea from Taiwan. I enjoyed my life there, but, in terms of education, I have found it more enjoyable here to China. As you get older there is a lot of pressure in school in China, and everyone is expected to be the same, to achieve the same, and if you don’t no-one seems to care why.

“That is very different here. I came to Longridge for a visit first in November, 2024, and I was quite surprised that no-one seemed to care that I was different; that I was Chinese. You were just accepted as the same as everyone else.

“It is very peaceful and welcoming at Longridge. The teachers are more interested in who you are, what kind of person you are, and how they can support you maybe in different ways to other students to achieve the grades and reach your potential, but also to develop as a person. They care about you.”

Swapping a life in China for one in the UK takes courage

Jerry’s parents were keen for him to experience the world outside China and finish his schooling in the UK, whether that ultimately prepares him for a career in Europe or back in China.

It requires a degree of courage for a young man or woman to travel across the world and swap an education and friends in one’s homeland for a new country with new people speaking a new language, but, like Jerry, Andy has quickly found a new home at Longridge Towers after arriving in September.

Andy is just 14, and is quite mature for his age which perhaps has relevance to his given Chinese name, Sirui, with meaning linked to ‘thoughtful wisdom’ and ‘smart thinking’. His parents searched for such qualities in making their decision to send him to Longridge, the unique school situated close to the Scottish-English border. They have possibly guided Andy too as he has adapted quickly to his new environs.

“I was given the name ‘Andy’ by my teacher in kindergarten,” he explained, “but I like that the Scottish patron saint is St Andrew and he is known for bravery and courage.”

Both Jerry and Andy came to Longridge for visits in recent years, in common with many Chinese students now coming to the UK to finish their schooling and improve their English and career prospects.

“My mum spoke to me about how it would help me in my studies,” said Andy (pictured with mother Dillys). “She also felt that it would help me in the future to be able to speak good English and to learn more about Europe.

“At first, I wasn’t sure because I didn’t want to leave my friends, but I thought about it and said I would give it a try. Now, I am glad I did. I speak English much better now and in school there is much more choice of subjects you learn.

“You also get more support at Longridge that I did at school in China, and I feel there is more freedom to learn, and to do other things like sports, learning outdoors and visiting places as part of school. It is also more peaceful here.”

Supporting Chinese families is about ‘clear information and honest advice’

Their visits to Longridge were supported by a Chinese businesswoman who lives and works in Newcastle. May Wang has supported many Chinese families and helped their children to adapt to UK life, and she has been central to Jerry and Andy settling in at Longridge and England’s North-East.

She explained: “I think supporting Chinese families is mainly about giving clear information and honest advice. For many families, coming to the UK is a new experience, so they need to feel comfortable and confident. Longridge helps students settle in quickly and keeps good communication with parents, so everyone feels supported.

“It has small classes and teachers who give students more attention. Students are encouraged to speak more, think independently and take part in different activities, and these are very useful skills for their future.

“Jerry has been in the UK for a few years, and his progress has been quite clear. He has adapted quickly to the culture, and the school has helped him find his strengths and given him chances to develop. He is now more confident and active in school.

“Andy (pictured right) has been here for less than a year. He is still getting used to things like food and some cultural differences, but, overall, he is doing very well. He is improving in his studies and becoming more confident step by step.”

‘Wider environment’ benefits of Longridge key to happiness and confidence

May says a move to the UK for Chinese families is becoming more popular, but adds that the wider environment at Longridge is the key.

“I tell families to look at the academic side and exam results, of course, but I also say don’t only look at that. The school environment is also very important for children to become happy and confident. That is why I recommend Longridge; it is friendly and supportive, and students can grow in confidence and independence.

“It is also helpful to prepare children before they come, especially their English and basic life skills. Parents should give children some space to learn to be independent, but if families want their children to study well and also become more confident and adaptable, Longridge is a very good choice.”

Blend of academic excellence and time to ‘chill’ is key in ‘more interesting’ school life

On how life is different now, Jerry (pictured left modelling a new light sabre in boarding), takes a moment to reflect on schooling in China and his recent years towards Sixth Form at Longridge.

“The school work at Longridge is just as difficult as in China,” he comments, ‘but there is a more relaxed approach here, quite chill, and because we have people from many different countries it’s more interesting than life in China. There is more variety of people, skin colours, religions, IQ and just thoughts on everything, and how we see the world.

“We don’t have exams every day at Longridge. The expectations are high, everyone knows that, but there is less pressure to be the same as everyone else. I like to use my own motivation to achieve things and people respect that more here. People don’t judge as much. That is nice.

“There is also a real friendliness at Longridge, like people say ‘good morning’ to each other all the time. It is a happy place. The countryside here is great too; you feel quite chill with space to walk around and be yourself, which is very different to my old school in China.”

Students looking forward to ‘many options’ for further study and careers

Both boys speak of being very thankful for their family’s decisions to give them a new educational opportunity in the UK and say they are learning something new every day. Andy still has much to experience at Longridge and in the local area, and is now keen to develop basketball locally as the weather improves. Jerry is looking at a variety of options for universities in the UK and Europe.

“There are so many options here and so I’m looking at a few different things to do when I leave,” he added. “I quite like to debate and so working in the law attracts me, but I have enjoyed maths, physics and art, and like the idea of architecture.

“It was a big decision my parents took to send me to the UK and to Longridge, and obviously they have spent a lot of money and effort to make it happen, so, I want to honour that by making good choices in the next few years and prove that it was a good decision.

“But I already feel that my experience here has been more valuable than all the money it has cost, because of how much I have grown and more confident I feel about my education, my friendships and developing a career in something I want to do. It would be very different if I had stayed in China and I do not think I would have the same opportunities.

“I hope I’ve done a good job so far and we will wait and see what comes next, but I will always be thankful that my parents made the decision to send me to Longridge.”