This November, we’re privileged to be facilitating a multi-city educational delegation to China for seven senior leaders from King’s Group Academies.
Running from 21–29 November 2026, their bespoke itinerary will bring together school visits, professional exchange and opportunities to develop long-term partnerships between British and Chinese schools.
For headteachers, international collaboration offers valuable time to step outside familiar settings, exchange ideas with peers and reflect on different approaches to education. It can also create new opportunities for students to develop the confidence and intercultural understanding needed in an increasingly connected world.
King’s Group Academies operates 15 schools across Berkshire, Hampshire, Portsmouth and East Sussex. Its vision, “Opportunity and Success on a Global Stage”, provides a clear foundation for this leadership delegation and the trust’s wider global ambitions, building upon their already strong internationalisation activities.
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS & SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS
The delegation begins in Beijing, where the King’s Group leaders are scheduled to meet counterparts from leading schools in the city.
These visits are designed to move beyond introductions, giving leaders time to understand one another’s priorities and explore where meaningful collaboration could develop.
The planned programme includes:
- Leadership discussions: Exchanging perspectives on curriculum design, school management and priorities for future collaboration.
- Sister-school agreements: Working towards Memorandums of Understanding that provide a foundation for sustained cooperation.
- Teaching and learning exchange: Sharing sample UK lessons alongside observations of Chinese academic and cultural lessons.
The aim is to establish relationships built on mutual understanding, with practical next steps that both schools can take forward.
Beijing, where the King’s Group Academies delegation will begin. Photo: Gatsby Yang / Pexels.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE & SUPPORT THROUGHOUT
I’ll be accompanying the delegation alongside Oaklyn Li, GSE’s China Director, who will coordinate domestic travel, scheduling, translation and liaison with our Chinese partners.
Oaklyn and her team bring many years of experience supporting school visits and leadership delegations. Their local knowledge helps the programme run smoothly, allowing visiting leaders to focus on the people they meet and the ideas they encounter.
Our preparations include in-person pre-departure briefings, risk assessments and checks on programme arrangements, working with participating schools and local partners to address their responsibilities and requirements.
We aim to deliver a full, productive—and enjoyable—itinerary, with support available throughout.
Previous delegates have described Oaklyn as “an absolute gem” who goes “above and beyond” to help. I have no doubt she’ll bring the same care and enthusiasm to this visit.
HOSTING CREDITS
A defining feature of this delegation is how it has been funded.
The King’s Group Academies senior leaders’ tour is fully funded through credits earned by hosting short-term international student groups, typically for visits lasting three to seven days.
This reciprocal approach connects the benefits of welcoming international students with opportunities for a school’s own staff and pupils to travel overseas.
For UK school leaders, it offers a practical route to international professional development and partnership-building, using hosting credits to fund the programme rather than drawing on school budgets.
LASTING CONNECTIONS
The aim is always that the value of this delegation will extend beyond the nine-day itinerary.
A key objective is to develop relationships that support King’s Group Academies’ wider international priorities, with opportunities ranging from virtual collaborative projects and teacher exchanges to future student visits.
Strong partnerships take time. Meeting colleagues, observing lessons and discussing shared ambitions in person can lay the foundations for cooperation that continues long after delegates return home.
For GSE, this is central to our work: helping schools turn an international visit into an ongoing relationship that benefits staff and students.
GET INVOLVED IN 2027
GSE is running educator and senior leadership delegations to China, India and France throughout 2027.
If you would like to explore a place funded through school hosting credits, or discuss a bespoke itinerary for your school or trust, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Contact me at Tom@school.exchange to discuss how your school can get involved.
ENQUIRE ABOUT EDUCATOR TRIPS & HOSTING CREDITS
Written by Tom Saunders
Managing Director, Global School Exchanges