Cameron Sheeran, Executive Principal of Cowley International College, St Helens
I believe that school trips and international experiences provide a unique and powerful learning opportunity for young people. I have been involved in many over the years, but nothing comes close to the impact of the Mandarin Excellence Programme study trip to China. This summer, we were part of the largest ever school trip to China, where nearly 1,200 students from 61 schools across England embarked on a journey that I’m sure they will remember for the rest of their lives.
For students from a small town in the northwest of England, travelling 8,000 miles to experience a new culture, visit iconic landmarks, and practise Mandarin in real-world settings was truly life-changing. Opportunities like this can be rare for our students – 40% of those who travelled were in receipt of pupil premium funding, and many had never left the country or been on a plane before.
Our school is situated in a community where opportunities for students to travel abroad are often limited. The proportion of students known to be eligible for free school meals is twice that seen nationally. The school supports a significant number of priority families, 10 times the borough average, and high numbers of looked after children.
For our students, the experience was particularly meaningful and the impact of this trip cannot be overstated. But this was no holiday; the programme aimed to challenge and develop our students and it certainly did so. I was so proud of how they responded to the challenges they were given.
The students took part in an extensive cultural and language-learning programme, connecting with pupils in Chinese schools throughout the experience. The blend of lessons, activities and visits was perfect. The study trip also inspired our students to consider new opportunities. One example was the talk by the British Council in Beijing who were able to share the importance of learning Mandarin and how it can enhance career opportunities. Having the skills to converse confidently in Mandarin will open doors and could be life changing.
The trip was part of the Mandarin Excellence Programme, an initiative that has helped over 13,000 young learners in England on their path to fluency since its launch in 2016. We joined the programme in 2017 as part of the second cohort. We wanted to expand our curriculum opportunities especially in languages. At the time, significant Chinese investment was taking place in Merseyside, and we wanted our students to have the skills to seize future career opportunities. Beyond that, we saw the programme as a way to build cultural awareness and broaden their horizons.
Since returning from China, it has been noticeable that the students’ confidence has improved. Their knowledge of Mandarin has increased in depth including the courage to speak the language. They are excited about the opportunities they experienced. The trip has clearly inspired them and deepened their engagement with the subject.
Research from the British Council shows that nearly two-thirds of language students at university were inspired to pursue language degrees by an international exchange trip while at school. The impact of school trips and international experiences for foreign language learning cannot be underestimated. I would like to see more schools teaching Chinese follow the lead of the MEP and organise visits to China. If your school is able to take students abroad, even for a short visit, I would wholeheartedly recommend it - the impact can be truly life-changing.