Confucius Classroom contributes to college's success

In December 2017, All Hallows Catholic College opened the school’s new Mandarin ‘Confucius Classroom’.

In December 2017, students and staff at All Hallows Catholic College were joined by their local MP and Mrs Lucy Yang, Senior Language Tutor of the Confucius Institute, for the opening of the school’s new Mandarin ‘Confucius Classroom’.

Guests enjoyed a colourful and vibrant opening ceremony with songs performed in Chinese by All Hallows students, as well as entertainment from a Chinese dragon and a Kung-Fu demonstration, before cutting the ribbon for the new facility.

The classroom was funded by the Confucius Institute, thanks to All Hallows’ participation in its scheme designed to promote the teaching of Mandarin for pre-Key Stage Four students. The classroom is decorated in a traditional Chinese style, helping to create an environment that encourages students to enjoy learning Mandarin at school.

All Hallows has taught Mandarin since 2011, during which time the subject has gone from strength to strength. The first group of students to take GCSE Mandarin in 2015 achieved 88% A* - C grades, which was then exceeded last year with a 100% A* - B rate. Mandarin is also taught at five local primary schools, where around 350 students benefit from an early introduction to the language.

As well as a new classroom, the school is partnered with School 85 in Xian, regarded by many as the eastern end of the ancient Silk Road. Students from All Hallows have enjoyed exchange trips with their peers in Xian, helping them to broaden their horizons and to build new links between Macclesfield and China, at either end of the Silk Road.

All Hallows Headteacher Mr Anthony Billings adds: “Teaching Mandarin and Chinese culture is very important to us, given the increasing significance of China to world trade and the global economy.

"We intend to make the most of the opportunities presented by our participation in the Confucius Institute programme by partnering with Xian School 85, developing further links between Macclesfield and China, and building on the town’s rich silk heritage."

We wish All Hallows further success with its Mandarin programme and look forward to supporting it into the future.