PUPILS could soon be improving their fledgling links with China with live debates.

Westwood College, in Leek, has had links with schools across Europe and America for years, but only launched projects with China in July.

Since then, students have enjoyed Chinese-themed lessons in subjects such as art and science.

A pen pal scheme has also been introduced.

But to add to that, teachers would like to set up a video conferencing system with a partner school in Fushun, in north east China.

The college has now entered The Sentinel's Class Act competition with the hope of winning £5,000 to help with the project.

David Morgan, Westwood's director of international links and head of history, said: "We have got a lot of links with a number of different schools in Europe and America, but China is very different in terms of culture and is becoming an important country both for us and the rest of the world.

"That is why we are so interested in developing our links there."

He added: "The next stage of the link is to set up a joint curriculum project in which students and staff exchange ideas and information on a chosen theme.

"We would like to set up a video conferencing system so that students and staff can be talking to each other in lessons.

"We could hold simultaneous science practicals and share results or have a live, interactive debate."

The college also hopes to set up a pupil and staff exchange to take place in 2010 or 2011.

Any money left over from the purchase of equipment for video conferencing would be used to help subsidise the costs of this trip.

Since September, Year 11 and sixth form students have also been able to take classes in Mandarin.

Consideration is now being given to extend opportunities to study Mandarin right across the college in the future.

Students say they are thoroughly enjoying learning about the country, its culture and its language.

Emily Tabernor, a 15-year-old Year 11 student, who lives in Leek, said: "Mandarin will come in really useful if we decide to go travelling.

"I really enjoy learning it, because it is completely different to German and French."

Fellow Year 11 student Beth Barnes, also aged 15, and from Leek, said: "Our links with China are good, because they allow us to get opinions on things from people on the other side of the world."

Mandarin teacher Jing Ping Zhou added: "The students are very keen to learn about China and the work they are producing is very satisfying."