Mandarin Expansion Programme for the Department for Education contract award March 2016 (indicative)

Tender description

China is a country of huge strategic importance to the UK and education plays a key role in developing that wider relationship with important economic, educational and diplomatic benefits. The Government firmly believes that learning other languages is important in our globalised economy, as well as helping pupils to prepare for life in modern Britain. On 22 September the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced funding of £10 million for at least 5,000 additional pupils to be taught Mandarin in schools in England by 2020. The purpose of the programme is to deliver a minimum of 5,000 speakers of Mandarin on their way to a high level (HSK level V ) of fluency by 2020. This does not include native Mandarin speakers. A key requirement of the programme is to implement a rigorous programme of study to the most able students. Schools must also be equipped with the resources and teaching expertise to provide this with confidence. The contract will include break clauses at the end of each year and an option to extend. Broad Aims The programme will: • start in September 2016 with year 7 pupils, be demanding and intensive and focus on a relatively small number of schools; • be rigorous and involve the study of Mandarin by the most able and motivated pupils for eight hours a week made up of a combination of class-time teaching, after school teaching and self- study; • supply a sufficient number of teachers that are recruited and trained centrally; • give pupils an experience of China through visits and/or online contact; and • embed effective, sustainable teaching practices that will continue to increase Mandarin teaching beyond the funding of this project. Further information can be downloaded from the 'Attachments' section.