TEACHERS from New Zealand visited Wiltshire recently to learn about creativity and thinking skills and about teaching gifted and talented pupils.

During the two-week visit the four teachers visited secondary and primary schools across the county.

The visiting teachers sat in on lessons and had the chance to talk to both teachers and pupils.

As well as visiting local schools the teachers met with officers from the county council's education department, including director of education, Bob Wolfson, to talk about how the local education department works and the support provided to schools and individual children.

The visit was funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Education in association with the British Council.

Education advisor, Paul Quantick, who organised the trip said: "We find this type of visit invaluable to learn about how things are done in other parts of the world. We have organised a number of trips for Wiltshire teachers to learn from other countries including a recent trip to New Zealand.

"This was our chance to return the compliment and show colleagues from New Zealand how we teach children in Wiltshire.

"I hope our visitors went home with some new ideas and we learnt some useful things from them. I know many contacts have been made as a result of the visit."