Mandarin Chinese - Primary School (South East)

[Singaporeslinger84]

Hi!

I am planning a move back to the UK from Asia with 2 kids (1 and 3). They both go to bilingual English/Mandarin speaking kindergarten (but speak English at home) and I would love for them to continue to learn in Mandarin, or at least have a few classes at school (integrated into lessons rather than with a tutor) in Mandarin when we move back. We are likely moving to the south east (E or W Sussex/Kent/Surrey). Has anyone heard of or experienced primary schools in the South East with Mandarin lessons? I've yet to find anything online outside of London. Is this a pipe dream?!

Thanks in advance for any leads.

Harris Primary Academy in East Dulwich teach mandarin. I don’t know the areas you are suggesting but perhaps other people could advise.

Eltham College (currently boys only but going co-ed from September 2020) teaches Mandarin from Y3.

My son learns Mandarin at his school (independent), they learn three languages, French, Spanish and Mandarin from Reception - there is also an attached nursery from 6 months. I have to say that although it’s fun and my son does love trying out his phrases etc, I suspect your children would be very advanced in comparison. My son’s school is in Crowthorne which is in Berkshire (OLPS), but I do believe there’s some kind of Saturday Chinese school for children in either Wokingham or Reading as an ex work colleague is Chinese and her children attend every week. By the way, we love our school, I can definitely recommend it.

Just to add, I looked on OLPS website and the children learn three languages from nursery - earlier than I thought (we joined the school later).

Goodrich Primary school in East Dulwich also teaches mandarin. The North Dulwich Charter school for secondary also teaches it. All of these are in London.

Harris has multiple locations so they may teach it elsewhere in the locations you are looking for.

Thanks for the leads folks.

Brighton College prep teaches mandarin. We moved back from Asia with mandarin speaking kids too - they carried on with private lessons - 2 per week, and they go on the mandarin summer camps run by their teacher. These classes are in Brighton. Happy to share more info if you want to pm me

My kids go to a Mandarin Saturday school in Windsor, if that helps, and it's taught as an extra activity at their prep school - not integrated into the main curriculum though. Even a couple of hours a week plus my help at home has helped keep on track learning to read and write, though they still refuse to speak in public as it's apparently so totally embarrassing and I am trying to ruin their lives

Bohunt secondary school in Liphook, Hampshire has a Mandarin stream