Bermuda is to be represented by two public school principals at a global workshop of 100 ?outstanding school leaders? to be held in China this month.

And they hope to bring back to Bermuda some of the latest ideas and thinking that have been proven to greatly assist in the education of children around the world.

Dellwood Middle School?s Janette Musson and Spice Valley Middle School?s Dawnnelle Walker are also expected to play a role in helping formulate an educational agenda for the 21st century that will be used by schools in all corners of the globe.

The two middle school principals have been selected to fly to Beijing to take part in the first international workshop for school principals arranged by International Networking for Education Transformation (iNet).

?It is going to be a learning experience and I?m very excited about the prospect of collaboration it represents with other principals that may not share the same circumstances that we have,? said Mrs. Musson.

?I?m looking forward to learning a lot and sharing a lot. I believe it is the start of something wonderful for Bermuda,? added the former mathematics and guidance counsellor who has been in charge at Dellwood Middle for the past four years.

When they arrive in Beijing later this week, Mrs. Musson and Ms Walker will join leading school principals from a diverse range of countries including China, Japan, New Zealand, USA, Russia, UK, Hong Kong and Chile to both look at, and develop, educational models and ideas to provide better ways for schools to teach children.

The Bermuda school principals also have the opportunity to network with an esteemed selection of professional peers which includes a variety of experts such as Professor David Hopkins the UK?s former chief advisor to the Education Minister, Michigan State University?s Prof. Yong Zhao and Dr. Barry McGaw who is director of Melbourne Education Research Institute in Australia.

And spreading the name of Bermuda in such elite company is likely to be a further benefit for the Island as a result of Mrs. Musson and Ms Walker going to China.

?I?m very appreciative of having the opportunity to go to China and feel blessed to have been selected and be part of educational history,? said Ms Walker, who before becoming Spice Valley principal specialised in teaching English Language and Art.

She is particularly excited at the prospect of the work of the international gathering helping to shape the educational agenda for the 21st century and provide tools and ideas that can be utilised through countless schools that belong to iNet.

Bank of Bermuda selected the two school principals to represent the Island.

CEO Philip Butterfield explained they had been chosen because of the ?substantial relationships? they already had with the bank.

As the bank is part of the HSBC group, which is sponsoring the workshop, it has been able to secure two places at the Beijing workshop, which lasts for six days.

Mr. Butterfield said the bank had been looking to enhance its relationship with the community and particularly with local schools in a way that would provide concrete and measurable results, and he believes the first international iNet workshop could do that.

He had been persuaded by Bank of Bermuda corporate secretary Judy Doidge who is a co-ordinate partner in the leadership programme, and by hearing from Prof. Hopkins.

He said the two chosen school principals would be able to interact with their peers in education and spread the name of Bermuda. ?I?m hoping Dawnnelle and Janette will come back with ideas and act as a beacon of light,? said Mr. Butterfield, a former chairman of the Board of Education.

?I believe the key is leadership. I believe as a community we have to be supportive of public school principals.

?Yes, there is work still to be done, but I say we should also celebrate the principals of public schools. I don? t think they get the credit they deserve. We are stepping in as a business enterprise to celebrate these two principals.?

As the international arm of Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, iNet?s mission is to support international affiliates in achieving excellent educational outcomes for all students by sharing best practice and helping develop partnerships in schools around the world.