Five teachers from Quebec are visiting Merton this week to learn about the British education system and how it operates in Merton schools.

The visit follows a trip to Quebec by a group of Merton teachers in February of this year as part of the Teachers International Professional Development (TIPD) programme organised by the British Council and funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

The aim of the initiative is to allow teachers in England to experience alternative educational practice in different countries around the world.

The Canadian teachers arrived at the council yesterday where they met with officers in the Children, Schools and Families Department and the Leader of the Council – Cllr David Williams – to discuss similarities and differences between schools in Canada and Britain.

They will continue their experience this week with visits to individual Merton primary and secondary schools where they will get first hand experience of how the British education system works in the borough.

Councillor Debbie Shears, cabinet member for children’s services says: “This initiative has been a great way for our teachers to exchange knowledge and experience with other professionals who place high priority on putting the educational needs and opportunities of children first.

“Our teachers brought home with them a number of good, practical examples of how they could improve systems here in Merton from their visit to Quebec earlier this year. We’re sure that this current trip will also be a rich source of knowledge for our Canadian friends.

“These types of opportunities allow us to continue driving up educational standards in Merton and we hope to maintain strong links between Merton and Quebec schools in the future.”