TWO NEW recruits to the teaching force at Manchester's Ducie High School have experiences worlds apart from colleagues in the staff room.

Viwe Miza, a former inspector of schools in South Africa, started at the school earlier this month. And joining the staff at the same time was Clare Joscelyne, who taught in a school for missionaries' children in Pakistan.

Head teacher Ray Kirby believes the varied experiences of the two newest members of staff will provide youngsters at the school with different educational perspectives.

With a high number of pupils from overseas, and with a total of 28 languages spoken in the school, Dr Kirby believes the diverse backgrounds of staff will improve the education on offer to pupils.

Both teachers expect to be quizzed by the youngsters about the schools they have worked in before taking up their posts in Moss Side.

Mr Miza, 54, who has been a schools' inspector for the past 15 years, says he is looking forward to getting back in a classroom after so many years in the South African equivalent of a local education authority. And he believes his unique experience and perspective could be used to enrich the curriculum.

Ms Joscelyne taught art to children of missionaries in a Christian school in Pakistan, but her visit was cut short by the events of September 11.

Children at the school worked towards Scottish Highers, but the subjects on offer depended on the staff the school could recruit.

Art had not been on offer at the school for some time, but in a couple of days Ms Joscelyne passed on creative skills that proved useful to teachers of other subjects.

Ms Joscelyne, who has also travelled in Ghana, says she hopes her travels make her more culturally aware. She uses influences she has picked up from overseas in her art lessons for the Manchester pupils.

The M.E.N. is Backing Ducie in an effort to support the school as it works towards becoming one of the UK's first city academies in 2003.

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