Private schools that teach mandarin?

[KobaniDaughters]

Does anyone know if there’s an easy to access list of private schools (in the south of england specifically) that teach mandarin U.K. to (and beyond) GCSE? Google hasn’t been helpful and I have a full list of the state schools that do

Short answer - no there’s no list as such, I spent two years trying to find this out!

Your best bet is to look at the Independent Schools Modern Languages Association website www.ismla.co.uk/ which at least singles out schools which are actively pro-languages, but it’s basically a matter of trawling through each school (listed alphabetically) and checking their language department’s curriculum.

Spoiler - there aren’t many that teach it as a full school subject. Quite a lot of schools offer it as a ‘taster’ subject up to year 7 or 8 but then drop it from the main curriculum. However these schools will often support a child who wants to continue it to GCSE, although there may be a gap of a year or two where they get no formal teaching and you might need to supplement that with private lessons.

I’m not in the SE but could tell you a couple of schools in the North and Scotland if that’s any use!

I’m not going to say which school, but it’s a GDST in London, and my daughter will be doing it for GCSE and hopes to do A level too. They start in Y7.

Woodbridge School in Suffolk teach it from year 7 to 13

Thanks @thisisnotmyllama thats annoying though after looking I suspected this might be the case! And Thankyou @Peaseblossum22

@Jibberty I should have specified not London sorry!

Surely it would be better the other way around - look at the schools you like for all the other reasons you choose a school, and then see if they offer Mandarin to A-level? It's not much good if you have a daughter and don't want boarding, to have a list that has Eton on it.

Here's an old thread from 2012 on this but I bet some of those schools are worth having a look at: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/education/1598442-Schools-offering-Chinese-Mandarin

Benedon for Girls

Why not look for a private tutor? That way, you’re not limiting the choice of school to ones that offer this language.

Trinity school in Croydon teaches Mandarin from year 7 until Chine Pre-U in sixth form, including GCSE.

Thanks everyone.

The state school options are actually great but limits us where to live - we’re moving back to the U.K. from abroad and DS is currently in yr 8 in his second year learning mandarin at the local state school here. It’s his absolute favourite subject and he has a natural talent for it (apparently, I wouldn’t know!) so while we could get him a tutor I think if we can we’d prefer him to continue learning in a classroom setting with other kids and doing conversations and potentially a school trip at some point. He’s tried Spanish and French and doesn’t like them so it’s def specifically mandarin and he’s therefore do that as his modern language GCSE in lieu of a European one

@Xiaoxiong thanks for that thread - super helpful

Handcross Park (prep) and Brighton College

I feel your pain! We found that even in the schools here that do teach it, it tends to be treated as a ‘fun extra’, and I can tell you now that at y8 there is no way he will be allowed to choose it INSTEAD of French or probably even Spanish. All UK schools are obsessed with French! We have battled and battled about this but have had to accept that until GCSE option day, the order is French, then Spanish, and Mandarin in lunchtime clubs only.

Do you have a branch of the Confucius Institute or other Chinese-community run classes in the area you’re moving to? They’re a very good option, and are pretty much all over unless you’re really rural. They teach to the YCT / Hanban exams which are arguably more useful, from a global perspective, than GCSE or A-level anyway.

It’s also worth pointing out that if your DS has any thoughts about studying Mandarin at university in the UK, the vast majority of language degree courses only offer it at beginners’ level alongside another language. I’m aware of only two uni courses - one in England, one in Scotland - for Chinese which admits advanced learners (as opposed to native speakers or beginners).

Meanwhile please do PM me as my DS is the same age and has now been learning Mandarin via local classes for three years! (Having been bilingual up to age 5 and then lost it). Maybe they can chat online!

The Perse School in Cambridge does as an extra curricular activity.

@thisisnotmyllama - I wondered about CI too. I’m an adult learner of Chinese and have found the classes excellent. My only beef is that I don’t think the hanban exams are nearly as rounded as gcse or a’ level. I’ve done hsk 3, now studying 4, and the exams are multiple choice largely. The higher levels don’t seem to be vastly different. They definitely do test you, but not in the way e.g. writing an essay in an a’level written language exam does. I’ve also found my speaking really lagging behind so have a separate tutor for that now. I see gcse and a’level as the better, more rounded exams.

Just because a school offers mandarin today, it doesn't mean that they won't be tempted to cost cut and lay the mandarin teacher off tomorrow. Happened to a friend's son, who was halfway through his GCSE. I think the school had to pay someone to fill the gap for him, but mandarin just disappeared overnight for the rest of the non exam year groups studying it.

Sevenoaks has Mandarin from Year 8 right through to IB.

@thisisnotmyllama that’s not been my experience from the state schools though, Bohunt Academy schools in particular are very keen to keep it established and offer it in place of a European language. We’re also considering Hove Park for the same reason but want to see what other areas might be an option if a local private school offers it where there isn’t a state option

This is a great link for the state schools offering it if it helps but yeah let’s keep in touch as looks like we’re hunting for the same things!

ci.ioe.ac.uk/mandarin-excellence-programme/mep-schools/

Lol same link as you’ve mentioned I think sorry!

That’s a bit rubbish re university. He’s only 13 and a good all rounder at the moment but is quiet serious about mandarin and the potential for taking it further

GCSE / A Level Mandarin is rubbish & doesn’t even come close to making you proficient. If proficiency is the goal you want schools that offer it to up to a HSK standard (could be hsk or taiwanese hsk) - locally three schools do it as an option and all of them are State Schools.

Some state schools teach Mandarin too. My DD did Mandarin to GCSE and could have continued with it as part the IB (higher or lower level) if she had wanted to. Friends that did have gone on to continue their studies at Uni level.

https://www.hockerill.com/103/curriculum

Oh yeah, I didn’t think of IB but that’s definitely an option, if you can find an IB school. And in five years’ time the situation may have improved at uni, although with the way uni language depts have been decimated, I wouldn’t hold my breath. He could study in China though maybe, if he fancied it? We’re keeping this at the back of our minds as a possibility!

Ryde with Upper Chine
And you can choose it instead of the more traditional MFL

My son does Mandarin at Alexandra Park School (state). V good provision and not just based on a single teacher.

Not. Private but grammar. Dartford grammar teaches it's mandatory.

@ChequerBoard yes thanks - it’s really easy finding the state school options!

Thanks @SkunkButRug and @BellyMelly