A PIONEERING independent school enjoyed a great ball with China.

St Gerard’s School is forging strong links with Bangor Chinese School and even hosted its New Year celebrations.

They joined forces at the weekend for a party and performance at the recently refurbished Ffriddoedd Road institution, which teaches Mandarin to students from across north west Wales.

The Chinese School – launched five years ago – is now based at St Gerard’s and holds classes every Sunday for up to 50 young people aged four to 18, with subjects including Maths and Coding.

Head Jiao Kun thanked the school for its warm welcome, notably headteacher Campbell Harrison and the leadership team, who spoke at the event and joined in with traditional games and activities.

“We had a fantastic time, and as this is the Chinese New Year of the Dragon it was fitting for us to bring Wales and China together in celebration,” she said.

“It is a significant event heralding a year of prosperity and good fortune as encapsulated by the phrase “Double Dragons Play with the Pearl”, and the dragon is a mythical creature, unique among the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac, with the others being real animals.

“We are dedicated to teaching Mandarin and Chinese culture to children of Chinese heritage and to local children interested in learning about the Chinese language, so for us to now be working closely with St Gerard’s is fantastic, especially as they have a significant number of Chinese students who learn Mandarin with us.

“The collaboration is a model of close cooperation and shared development, and we are excited to see how it develops.”

The occasion featured performances including Tai Chi, Chinese dance, and traditional Dragon and Lion dances by the students, emphasising the community’s hopes for a prosperous and auspicious 2024.

Mr Harrison said building an even stronger partnership with Bangor Chinese School will only benefit St Gerard’s, which has undergone a period of significant investment and redevelopment since last summer.

“We are an open and inclusive community, which stretches far, far beyond North Wales,” he added.

“We are so proud of our international students, and particularly the learners we have from China and other parts of the world.

“To be part of their celebrations was a huge honour for us, it’s a day we will never forget, and we look forward to working side by side for many years to come.”