PUPILS and parents, past and present, from a Chaddesley Corbett school have welcomed the headmaster of their sister school in South Africa to celebrate their partnership.

Winterfold School welcomed Ncemaneni Primary School's headteacher, Armstrong Mthembu, to the school last week.

Pupils from Winterfold have been going on sports tours to South Africa for the last 12 years and during that time have raised more than £65,000 for the school.

The partnership between the two schools is something that means a great deal to all at the school who has been on tour, assisted with fundraising or been involved in any way.

Mr Mthembu was given a rapturous welcome by pupils when he arrived at the school - when they lined the driveway waving flags and cheering, followed by performances by the percussion band on the djembe drums and songs by the Winterfold Girls' Harmony Choir.

During a welcome evening on Tuesday, October 17, he spoke about the challenges their 'learners' face on a daily basis and how Winterfold has helped to alleviate some of those issues by building a classroom block to help with overcrowding and the science block.

James Brinkley, head of boys' PE at Winterfold and tour leader, said: "The partnership between the two schools works both ways and Winterfold pupils, parents and teachers have all been positively influenced by our involvement together.

"We learn to put others first, to show love and care and to take up the challenge of making a difference.

"It was great to see so many pupils and parents who have been on previous tours. It really goes to show how much this means to them."

The evening concluded with a question and answer session, followed by an auction which helped to raise more than £3,000.