China’s global influence grows English-Chinese school strongly backed in UK

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Education in November and could get the green light early next year. Both Manchester Metropolitan University and Trinity High School have agreed Formerto be UK collaborative chancellor partners, of the exchequerand Rowlinson George said Osbornethat overhas written500 a letter parentsof supporthave expressedinterestintheschool.for a new free school in Manchester “They that believeMandarinwill combine Easternis a tool that and will Westernmeet the education,needs of the while locala bilingual business English community, and in Mandarin particular prep-schoolthe ability to is offer set tradingto open linksin Londonand communicationnext year. Both withChina,”schools he are says. responding Lastto an week, increasinglyOsborne sent populara letter beliefof supportamong parentsto Gerry in Yeung,the United aManchester Kingdom entrepreneurthat an understandingwho sits on of the Mandarinschool’s board.and ChineseThe former culture chancellorwill benefit said theirthe school children alignedas China’swell with global the influence Northern grows. Powerhouse The proposal, Manchester which Rutherfordaims to boost economic growth in northern England, partly by strengthening trade and investmentSchool hopes ties to with open China.in September Osborne 2017 was and recently serve made 900 chair studentsof the ages Northern11 to 16. Powerhouse This week, Partnership,the school’s a new board government-backed is submitting a bid to bodythe Departmentthat will promotefor Educationthe politicalto registerand businessunder the interestsfree schoolof the Greater initiative. ManchesterSuch institutionsarea. He are was free sackedto attendas chancellorand receive by statenew Prime funding, Minister though Theresathey are May not in controlledJuly. by the local educational “As a authority.leading proponent of economicThe school growthwill adherein to our the region regular and curriculum, particularly thoughthe Northern Mandarin lessons Powerhousewill be compulsoryand Manchester and China Eastern Forum teachinginitiatives, methods I will amkeenbe employed.to promote programs“It will that be improvevery mucheducational focused on standards Chinese and languageprovide and young culture people— a fusionwith the of skills Eastern they and need Westernto represent pedagogies, our regionwith strongon linksthe worldto the stage,” Osborne wrote.

Interest in Mandarin is on the rise in the United Kingdom. business The number community,”of students Peter taking Rowlinson,the General project Certificate manager of for Secondarythe free school Education bid, exam said in recently. Mandarin “Manchesterrose by 10is verypercent keen year-on-yearto exploit the in opportunities2016, and has increasedthat China by will75 percentbring as in a the marketplacepast five years.and as a cultural exchange England’s opportunity,first bilingual particularly school since for President Mandarin Xi’s visit.”and EnglishIf the is bid set progresses,to open next the summerboard willin London.be called Kensingtonto an interviewWade willat the be Departmenta fee-charging for Educationprep schoolin Novemberfor 500 studentsand could ages get 3 theto 13. green light early Hugo nextde Burgh,year. Both director Manchesterof the ChinaMedia Metropolitan Centre Universityat the Universityand Trinityof WestminsterHigh School and have co-founderagreed to of be Kensington collaborative Wade, partners,said recentlyand Rowlinsonthat the schoolsaid that will targetover 500 three parentsgroups of have parents. expressedThe smallest interest groupin the comprisesschool. Chinese professionals working in London who want their children to receive an English education while maintaining their Mandarin. The largest group will be made up of other international “They parents. believe Mandarin is a tool “You’llthat will have, meet say, thea Japaneseneeds of guythe local who’s business married community,to a French wifeandtheyworkinin particular the ability financialto offer servicestrading linksin Centraland communicationLondon. They withare very China,” sensitivehe said. to the fact Last that week, China is Osborneso important sent toa letterthe world,”of supportDe Burgh to says. Gerry Yeung, “Thena Manchesterthere are British entrepreneurparents who who sits have on the discovered school’s how board. importantThe former China chancelloris, who knowsaid the it’s schoolthe main aligned trading well partnerwith the Northernof 124 countries Powerhouseand that proposal,— especiallywhich aims afterto boostthe G20 economic— growth decision-makers,in northern opinion England, formerspartly by and strengtheningbusiness leaders trade are and all investmentrealizing what ties Chinawith China.does and where China invests England’sis very first important bilingualfor the school world’sfor Mandarin economy. andIf ‘Little English Jane’ is canset to learn open Chinese,next summershe’s gotin London.a head start.”