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Inbox Education launch "Chinese for Fun"

Inbox Education today announced the launch of "Chinese for Fun", a, introductory Mandarin language course for use in schools.

Combining language and cultural units the course is designed to maximise accessiblity, with the needs and interests of Western students in mind.

Separate international and UK versions are available, and in Scotland the company can assist with staffing, providing part time staff as part of a single package.

"We're very excited," said Fraser Newham, Director of Education at Inbox and himself a Mandarin speaker.

"For UK schools the course offers schools a tremendous opportunity to expose their students to what will almost certainly be the defining language and culture of the 21st century in a fun and accessible way.

"With classes designed to be delivered in optional slots, at lunchtime or after school head teachers don't need to worry about finding extra space in the curriculum.

"And meanwhile schools where Mandarin is already taught appreciate the rigorous planning materials and the opportunity to professionalize their beginners' programme."

Inbox will be developing a range of Chinese teaching materials over the next three years. (4th May 2007)

Find out more about "Chinese for Fun".

Mandarin option to feature in England's National Curriculum

The QCA review of England's National Curriculum at Key Stage 3 has recommended schools should be able to teach international languages like Mandarin and Arabic. At present schools must teach an EU language.

"Young people need to be aware that languages can make you attractive to employers - and more employable," said Education Secretary Alan Johnson.

Other changes include new emphasis on the British Empire and the legacy of slavery in History, and modules in healthy cooking.

The changes will come into effect in September 2008. (6th February 2007)

Citizenship in England to teach British values, says Johnson

The government will introduce a requirement for English schools to teach core British values, Education Secretary Alan Johnson has announced.

"More can be done to strengthen the curriculum so that pupils are taught more explicitly about why British values of tolerance and respect prevail in society and how our national, regional, religious and ethnic identities have developed over time," the BBC quoted Johnson as saying.

According to the Ajegbo report, the new element for citizenship lessons will be called "Identity and Diversity: Living together in the UK".

A key part of this will be British history, currently optional after the age of 14, and it will address topics which include immigration, devolution and the legacy of the British Empire.

The report also argues Citizenship is best taught as a separate subject - presently schools have the option to teach it through other disciplines (30th January 2007).

China, UK to deepen educational ties in 2007

China and Britain will further develop educational ties in 2007, educational minister-counselor at the Chinese embassy in London Wang Yongda told guests at a reception yesterday.

Already 20,000 Chinese students study in Britain and 1,400 UK students are studying in China, he said. Seven Confucius institutes have now been established at British Universities.

In 2007 the two countries will hold a third educational summit in Beijing; meanwhile, to promote Mandarin teaching in schools, 150 headteachers and LEA officials will be invited to China this year and the feasibility of several further Confucius Institutes will be explored, including one at Cambridge (25th January 2007).

Guardian showcases good Citizenship teaching

Following the recent OFSTED report criticising much of the Citizenship teaching which takes place in England, the Guardian today visits a school in Westminster to investigate good practice in action.

The turning point says Marcus Bhargava, head of Citizenship at Pimlico School, was the arrival of teachers with dedicated PGCEs in Citizenship teaching.

Read the article here. (14th November 2006)

Teach pupils how to campaign, charity says

The Sheila McKechnie Foundation wants the government to include campaigning in the National Curriculum in England, so that children can learn how to effect political change.

The foundation, set up last year in memory of the former head of Shelter, has launched an awards scheme for schools to encourage campaigning.

Chief Executive Claire McMaster said: "We are failing the next generation if we don't teach them how to influence decisions that affect their lives."

The foundation, which numbers Gordon Brown among its patrons, is also backed by human rights organization Liberty. (8th November)

Royal Bank of Scotland teaches Scottish schoolchildren to save

The Royal Bank of Scotland is introduce 100 'school branches' in deprived areas to teach primary and secondary children about personal finance.

In the manner of the Young Enterprise scheme, the branches will be staffed by students (presumably unpaid!), to whom the RBS will provide training. Pupils in the school will be able to open accounts and make deposits, although not withdrawals, and the money will be transferred to an RBS branch at the end of each day.

"The banks help children build up confidence in handling money and improve their numeracy skills - both they and the teachers love this approach," Stephen Moir, head of community investment at RBS told the Scotsman Newspaper.

The newspaper reports that at Springburn Academy, a school piloting the scheme, 10% of the 1000 strong student body have opened an account in the last six months. (7th November 2006)

Video Conferencing to advance minority language teaching

With Executive support, Glasgow Gaelic school is to purchase equipment to allow education by video conferencing - this technology will allow geographically remote students to join classes at the newly founded school.

"The school will extensively use new technology to help open doors for Gaelic speakers. The Glasgow Gaelic School is evidence that Gaelic's future is looking bright. Gaelic medium education is growing in popularity and is helping to create tomorrow's Gaelic speakers," Education Minister Peter Peacock told the Herald.

Could the same thing happen for a subject like Mandarin? The SQA intend to introduce a full diet of Mandarin qualifications in spring 2008, with first certification in summer 2009. (2nd November 2006)

Report confirms educational benefits of bilingualism

A report by Cilt, the centre for languages, has argued more should be done to promote bilingualism in British schools. Bilingual students whose parents encourage bilingualism seem to perform significantly better at GCSE, the report argues.

At the same time, bilingualism is a resource which should not be squandered.

"Rather than thinking in terms of an 'English-only' culture, we should be promoting 'English plus'," Cilt patron Sir Trevor McDonald told the BBC. (1st November 2006)