Chinese Teaching Takes on at New Regional Schools

10.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 30th Sep 2008

Escaping this weekend's typhoon in Taiwan, six more Chinese teaching assistants have arrived in the region under Graham's 'Broadening Horizons' scheme for Mandarin teaching in local schools. In addition to The Sir Bernard Lovell School (South Gloucestershire), Huish Episcopi School in Somerset, The Sir John Colfox School (Bridport, Dorset), Pilton Community College (Barnstaple, Devon) and Hayle Community in Cornwall, this year sees assistants placed in new schools - Penrice Community College in Cornwall, Kingsmead Community College in Somerset, The Cotswold School in Gloucestershire and The John Bentley School in Wiltshire.

Commenting Graham said:

"I am delighted that last year's pilot scheme proved a success. With more regional schools on board this year and with the increasing role China is playing in business and world affairs, pupils in the region will be better equipped for the world of work."

Eva Heim, Director of Specialism at Kingsmead School, Somerset, said:

"We are absolutely delighted to be able to host a Chinese assistant this year. This will add a further dimension to our language college and enrich the experience of our students and those in our feeder primary schools. Wen-Yu will join a team of three other assistants - Lisa from Germany, Marion from France and Ania from Poland. Together they will bring a truly international flavour to our school and make a key contribution to our global citizenship education."

For Nigel Machin, Deputy Headteacher and Language College Director at Penrice Community College, Cornwall, the schme will make a big impact in the delivery of languages at the school:

"We are delighted to welcome Wan-Ju to Penrice Community College. She will be a tremendous asset to the Modern Languages Faculty and in particular of great assistance to Miss Joanna Meinertzhagen who has introduced the teaching of Mandarin Chinese to Year 8 students since September of this year."

In advance of the arrival of the second teaching assistant at Pilton Community School in Devon, Headteacher Mark Juby said:

"I am so grateful to Graham [Watson] for helping develop the teaching of Mandarin Chinese at Pilton. We are looking forward to welcoming Chiao-Wen to the College. It is clear that our students' horizons are increasingly focused on the Far East and the emerging economies in this part of the world. Our pupils will benefit enormously from learning not only a new language but also about the culture and history of this region."