Winterfold Hosts Sister School, Ncemaneni Primary’s Headmaster

05 Dec 2017

Pupils at Winterfold School have given a tremendous welcome to Armstrong Mthembu, Headmaster of Ncemaneni Primary School, it’s sister school in South Africa today (17/10/17) as he arrived for his first visit to the school.

Around three hundred excited children lined the driveway, holding their South African flags and cheering to welcome the Headmaster. Mr Mthembu was then treated by a performance by the Percussion band playing djembi. On entering the school, there was an additional surprise of songs by the fantastic Winterfold Girls’ Harmony Choir including ‘My Favourite Things’ from The Sound of Music.

Pupils and staff have been visiting South Africa on tour for twelve years and in that time have raised over £65,000 for the school. This has facilitated the building of a new classroom block, provided equipment and resources and a new Science building that has transformed education at the school.

Amongst the many activities planned for his visit, Mr Mthembu will hold a Q & A session with the children about the partnership between Winterfold and Ncemaneni and will spend time watching the junior sports fixtures.

This evening, the school is hosting a Cheese and Wine Evening “An Evening with Armstrong” for staff, parents and former parents and pupils who have been on tour to South Africa. There will be a presentation on the developments in the last 12 years between Winterfold and Ncemaneni. Following a tour of Bromsgrove School given by former Winterfold pupils who visited South Africa in 2011, Mr. Mthembu will spend time back at Winterfold participating in a session of Zulu language, culture and dance. He concludes his visit to the UK by visiting Oxford, Bath, Snowdonia, Windsor Castle, Blenheim Palace, Stratford, Cambridge, Malvern Hills and Worcester Cathedral.

Mr. James Brinkley, Head of Boys’ Games and Tour Leader to South Africa said “We are very fortunate to have the Headmaster of our Sister School Ncemaneni Primary with us for the week. This really cements the very strong relationship our schools have developed over the last 12 years. It has not only made a huge difference to the lives and education of the learners at Ncemaneni but has also taught our pupils some very important lessons about their place in the world and the responsibility that they have to try and improve the lives of others and make a difference”.