Always used at events to greet and bring good luck to audiences the highly decorated dragon wound its way through a packed Chapel ‘snapping’ up pupils heads and rearing on its hind legs to tower above the fascinated audience.

Before the Dragon’s dramatic entrance to the School Chapel. 200 students and staff heard classical Chinese music, an operatic aria and watched intrigued as a young magician, recently admitted to the London Magic Circle elevated a table in front of the audience.

Madam Hu Pinghua, the wife of the new Chinese Ambassador to the UK made her first visit to St George’s to see for her self the school which has links with a remote part of China where she was once the wife of the Deputy Governor.

Amazed to learn of the connection between St George’s and Gansu Province. Madam Hu spoke eloquently of her delight with the day and also thanked the school for their pioneering work with Shandan school Embassy staff and education department officials visited the six different sessions given by school staff on topics such as calligraphy, Mandarin and Tai Chi. Twelve Media representatives travelled with the Embassy party and made a film of the visit for two Chinese TV channels.

All 180 Year 7 pupils experienced the taster courses as part of the Sun Lane school’s curriculum projects which ahs seen China studies and Mandarin elevated to an important status.

Norman Hoare Headmaster said

“The day was a tremendous success thanks to the support of the Embassy who planned the events for many months and my staff who are totally behind our development of China studies -our fourth sixth form group of 20 students goes to China for a summer school in July, and two staff are on an international course in Asia in October.

In addition Mr Tucker, Head of Music Technology is coming to the end of his year at Beijing University where he has been on a scholarship.

Ms Gerwien our International School Coordinator and I are giving lectures at the University of Beijing next week. We are joined by vice Chairman of the Governors Susan Fairbairn who will talk about funding and governance in English Schools.

After our speaking engagements we are travelling by plane, train and bus to the remote north west – to the borders of Mongolia- to visit the school in Shandan founded by one of Harpenden’s most famous sons, George Hogg who died tragically in China in 1945. He is seen as a great hero in China and we are looking forward to renewing our friendship with the school, representative of which are travelling to Harpenden in August this year.

Madam Hu was a charming guest and we were privileged to host her for the day, which included a Chinese meal for 200 – with chopsticks for everyone brought by her entourage. The Embassy staff had great fun teaching many of our pupils how to eat their authentic Chinese lunch prepared by our own chefs. It really was memorable!”

The photograph shows the Dragon raised up revealing the student carrying the costume – there are two underneath this – and to the right Madam Hu the wife of the Chinese Ambassador sits next to Headmaster ( on the end of the row) with her officials from the London Embassy