CHILDREN and teachers from a small rural Norfolk school are heading to China's biggest city this week.Tomorrow, eight children from Freethorpe Primary, accompanied by head teacher, Rachel Quick will head to the Xuhui district of Shanghai.

CHILDREN and teachers from a small rural Norfolk school are heading to China's biggest city this week.

Tomorrow, eight children from Freethorpe Primary, accompanied by head teacher, Rachel Quick will head to the Xuhui district of Shanghai.

During the trip they will visit partner school, No 1 Gaoan Road Primary.

Ms Quick said: "Freethorpe is an incredibly rural school and visiting Shanghai will be the most amazing eye-opener for both children and the staff.

"We have had a link with our partner school since 2005, during which time we have enjoyed learning more and more about Chinese culture, sharing similar life experiences with the children at Gaoan Road and hosting art and language teachers from Xuhui.

"The children are really looking forward to spending a week in a Chinese school, meeting children of their own age, looking at how their lives are similar, as well as the differences."

The partnership, involving schools throughout Norfolk, and visits to China are now sponsored by Price Waterhouse Coopers, having been funded for three years by HSBC.

It has given children and education professionals in the county and China the opportunity to work together and discover a different culture and language.

Since the partnership was created, over 120 Norfolk, teachers, and education professionals have been across to Shanghai, with 74 pupils.

In return 43 Chinese education professionals have come to Norfolk, alongside 12 children.