{"id":247247,"date":"2026-06-04T23:00:39","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T22:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/?p=247247"},"modified":"2026-06-05T12:06:30","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T11:06:30","slug":"dfe-mulls-replacing-tories-mandarin-excellence-programme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/dfe-mulls-replacing-tories-mandarin-excellence-programme\/","title":{"rendered":"DfE mulls replacing Tories’ Mandarin Excellence Programme"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ministers are considering replacing the long-running Mandarin Excellence Programme with a new scheme to support the language.<\/p>\n

Launched under the Conservative government in 2016, the programme aimed to boost Mandarin uptake among pupils and train more Mandarin teachers.<\/p>\n

It included \u201cintensive\u201d lessons for pupils, enrichment trips to China, retention payments to stop pupils dropping out and professional development opportunities for teachers.<\/p>\n

Its funding was cut<\/a> last year, and the current scheme is set to run until August 2027.<\/p>\n

A market engagement notice<\/a> was recently published by the DfE, which states that it is \u201cseeking to award a contract [\u2026] for delivery of a programme to support the teaching of Mandarin in state-funded schools in England\u201d.<\/p>\n

This will be delivered from September next year \u2013 after the Mandarin Excellence Programme ends \u2013 to August 2030.<\/p>\n

The notice does not provide much detail, but interested parties and potential bidders will be able to sign up for an online information session on June 17.<\/p>\n

The DfE confirmed that the notice reflects their desire to continue supporting Mandarin teaching and consider options for this.<\/p>\n

They added that they expect the intensive study trip to China to remain part of the programme, if feasible.<\/p>\n

\u2018Insight into a new culture\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Professor Ren\u00e9 Koglbauer, chair of the management board at the Association for Language Learning, welcomed the continued investment in Mandarin.<\/p>\n

“The programme has transformed the lives of thousands of state school children by developing their Mandarin skills and giving them a greater insight into a new culture.<\/p>\n

“Also, it has increased the diversity of languages that are offered by schools, shifting away from a predominant focus on European languages.”<\/p>\n

Cara Bleiman, research lead, primary Chinese consultant and co-ordinator of primary and secondary partnerships at the Harris Federation, also welcomed the decision.<\/p>\n

But she warned that progression beyond key stage 4 \u201cremains a challenge\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cThe current A-level presents a significant barrier, with a steep transition that discourages uptake, especially among non-heritage learners.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the return of Erasmus, we would also welcome clarity on whether the Turing Fund [a replacement for Erasmus] will continue or what alternative support will exist for non-EU trips abroad.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Harris Federation does not offer the Mandarin Excellence Programme and has been funded through the Swire Chinese Language Foundation.<\/p>\n

Funding levels unclear <\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Mandarin Excellence Programme was delivered by University College London\u2019s Institute of Education (IOE) and the British Council.<\/p>\n

It initially aimed to get \u201cat least 5,000 young people on track towards fluency in Mandarin Chinese by 2020\u201d \u2013 but this target was exceeded with more than 8,000 pupils taking part.<\/p>\n

Funding for the programme was cut in September, with schools receiving \u00a315,000 a year rather than \u00a320,000.<\/p>\n

Teaching was also reduced from eight hours a week to six, and funding was withdrawn for pupils to visit China. But financial support will continue to help pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds visit China in year 9.<\/p>\n

A DfE spokesperson said: \u201cMandarin Chinese plays a significant role in international business, politics and culture, which is why the Department for Education continues to invest in the Mandarin Excellence Programme\u00a0\u2014 helping to meet the future business and economic needs of the country.”<\/p>\n

The notice is for early market engagement, which takes place before a tender for a contract is published.<\/p>\n

It means it is not \u201ca call for competition\u201d, and that the DfE \u201creserves the right not to enter a formal procurement process and not proceed with contract award\u201d.<\/p>\n

UCL declined to comment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Flagship language scheme will end next year, but documents show ministers are considering a replacement<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":316072,"featured_media":247151,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[349],"post-theme":[2961],"class_list":["post-247247","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-curriculum","post-theme-curriculum"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t