INDEPENDENT school pupils are having lessons alongside youngsters on the other side of the world following a link-up agreement.

Educators at Heathfield School in Wolverley were invited to Thailand in 2006 by the owner of the then Lord Shaftesbury School, in the country's capital, Bangkok.

Roger Brierly, Heathfield's headteacher, was among school trustees who were invited to the Far East to form an education partnership with the Thai school.

The schools' bosses were so impressed they agreed a formal link-up in 2007 with the Bangkok school changing its name to Heathfield International.

Now both sets of pupils are taught in English, follow the national curriculum, have the same uniforms and, in many cases, similar lessons.

The idea is to generate friendships between both schools' youngsters - a pen-pal project has been launched - in classrooms separated by the continents of Europe and Asia.

Mr Brierly said: "It's a wonderful opportunity for our children to learn about Thai culture.

"Hopefully, we'll look to do some teacher exchanges and pupil visits in the future."