Our students recently took part in the HSBC/British Council Mandarin Chinese Speaking Competition in London against 30 other teams. They were selected for the national final which will take place at the British Museum on Tuesday 9^th February. Mandarin Chinese has been taught at the school over the past 4 years and the first cohort of students achieved outstanding results at GCSE last summer.

Students have chosen to continue with A’ level Mandarin and view this competition as an exciting and unique opportunity to boost their confidence prior to examinations.

Will, Year 12, said “The competition is a great opportunity to use my Mandarin speaking skills and I look forward to broadening my knowledge and representing my school in the national final”.

If students are successful, they will spend a week in Beijing paid for by the British Council and will have the opportunity to visit historical sites and interact with local students. Mrs Li-Hua Granville, Teacher of Mandarin, said: “I am immensely proud of my students’ achievement. It was a pleasure to watch their confident and entertaining presentation in Mandarin in front of such a large audience. I wish them all the best in the national final in London.”