Reflections: Peer-led learning and cultural exchange

As the Year of the Snake begins, it is an opportune moment to reflect on the past week's Chinese New Year celebrations at Royal High School Bath. The week was filled with cultural enrichment and student leadership, highlighting the power of traditions in fostering community and learning. 

Monday began with a whole-school assembly, where international students took centre stage in sharing aspects of Lunar New Year. The assembly opened with an introduction to the festival’s rich traditions, including the significance of food, family reunion, and the zodiac animals. This was followed by a shadow puppet show retelling the story of the Great Zodiac Race—a tale rich in symbolism and moral lessons. It emphasises that intelligence, resourcefulness, and cooperation can be just as valuable as speed and strength. The story teaches us that different qualities—such as cleverness (like the Rat riding on the Ox), perseverance (like the Ox), and kindness (like the Dragon stopping to help villagers)—all contribute to success.

This ties beautifully to the Chinese proverb “众人拾柴火焰高” (Zhòng rén shí chái huǒ yàn gāo), which translates as “When everyone adds firewood, the flames rise high.” The proverb highlights the power of collaboration - one of our school’s learner qualities. This spirit of teamwork was evident not only in the story itself but also in our own students’ efforts.

More than just a performance, the puppet show provided an opportunity for students to collaborate, have fun, and take pride in creating and sharing something meaningful with the rest of the school. Similarly, this spirit of collective effort extended beyond assembly, as students worked together to engage other students in cultural exchange throughout the week.

Next, an introduction to traditional Chinese music set the stage for Yuyuan’s beautiful guqin performance, which introduced many students to the evocative sounds of this instrument. The assembly concluded with Sophia, from Year 9, sharing her own impressive calligraphy and explaining her personal journey in becoming skilled in it.

Our celebrations extended into the school community and beyond. The boarding students embraced the hands-on experience of a dumpling-making workshop, learning not only a culinary skill but also the cultural significance of food in bringing people together. The act of making dumplings mirrors a core Confucian principle: harmony within the collective, reflecting the familial spirit of the New Year festivities. On Tuesday, the atmosphere shifted to celebratory karaoke, where students performed in multiple languages, embracing their diverse linguistic identities. Watching students confidently sing in their home languages was a joy, reflecting our school ethos of viewing language as a bridge rather than a barrier.

On Wednesday, the international year-group leaders, supported by international students from Year 9, visited Beacon Rise Primary School to share our celebrations. They engaged Years 4 and 5 in storytelling—sharing the Legend of Nian—along with mask-making and calligraphy workshops. 

On Thursday, at our own Prep School, students introduced nursery and early years students to the Year of the Snake through creative activities based on the Great Zodiac Race. These interactions were a testament to the power of peer-led learning and cultural exchange. 

Working in their second (and even third) language in some cases, our students demonstrated linguistic resilience and flexibility—invaluable skills in an increasingly globalised world.

For me, personally, this week resonated deeply with my experiences both as a teacher of multilingual students and as a former resident of Beijing. Unless you have lived in a country where the Lunar New Year is widely celebrated, it is hard to grasp just how significant this time of year is for many of our international students and how deeply rooted it is in notions of community. I was always welcomed into the homes of others while I was far from my own, and this kindness and sense of togetherness is something I feel we managed to capture beautifully this week at school.

My work with international students new to the UK has highlighted how eager they are to learn about British customs and traditions. However, in today’s world, it is just as crucial that we learn from them. This week reaffirmed that celebrating linguistic and cultural diversity enriches not only those who share their traditions but also those who receive them.

As we step into the Year of the Snake—a symbol of wisdom, transformation, and elegance—I am confident that this spirit of openness and intercultural learning will continue to thrive in our school.

恭喜发财, 新年好 – wishing you all a prosperous and joyful New Year!

Miss Natalie Cheers, Head of International Students, Royal High School Bath, GDST