Hackney Schools work with professionals to create an opera inspired by China - and are inspired to twin their schools!

Three thousand pupils in nine Hackney Schools have been involved in every stage of the creation of a completely new opera inspired by China.

"Confucius Says" is based on Chinese myths and will get its World Premier on July 3rd at the Hackney Empire in London.

Karen Coulthard, Head of Berger School, says the project has been a "once in a life time opportunity" for many of the pupils involved.  And it's inspired the schools to twin with schools in Beijing.

Watch the BBC London News report about it here

The Confucius Says project was born out an appreciation of the importance of China.
 
"There needs to be an awareness," explains Karen, "of the growing place of China in our children's future - in the economic global world they will be a part of."

So, a visit to China to develop school partnerships was a natural step to take. 

In May twelve teachers from the "Confucius Says" schools visited schools in Beijing.  Since they came back, Berger School has made contact with Qianmen Primary School.  They have plans for live video conference to take place after the show so that they can tell their twin school about the performances.  They hope that a partnership will develop.

Tertia Sefton Green has managed the whole project for the schools - from music to the entire curriculum.

"A really important part of the project is sustainability," says Tertia, "and so the long term plans for schools to twin give this project its future!"

How did they do that?

"Confucius Says" is written by Richard Taylor and Stephen Plaice with Hackney schools and is based on Chinese myths and legends will be premiered at London’s Hackney Empire on 3 July 2008. 

The schools worked with Hackney Music Development Trust.

The British Council funded the visit to find twin schools in Beijing.

Join World Class and find out how you can twin your school.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.