What is the minimum and maximum age for my child to join the school ?

The child will need to have good concentration levels and basic handwriting skills due to the intensive nature of learning Mandarin. We recommend the child should be attending at least Year 1 in their day school. From experience, we find they settle in easier and are more receptive in class. The maximum age is 16 years old.

 

Does my child need to join at the beginning of each academic year ?

If the child has previous knowledge of Chinese, it is possible that they can join anytime during theacademic year. Otherwise, it is expected that children join the school at the beginning of the academic year (September) and no later than the end of Half Term in Autumn.

 

Will my child be able to cope with the lessons ?

We will consult with you on your child's knowledge and ability level before offering a free trial lesson in a suitable class.

 

Will my child need to have some basic knowledge of Mandarin before starting ?

No, as we accept children from all levels and backgrounds.

 

How much will it cost for the lessons ?

The fee is £4.50 per session paid in advance at the beginning of each term. You will be charged a pro-rata fee if joining in the middle of a term.

 

What does the fees cover?

We are a non-profit organisation which charge a nominal fee to cover our running costs and expenses of our teachers. In order to keep the costs down we ask parents to contribute their time to help run the school on a rolling rota basis.

 

How do I know my child has progressed ?

Your child will be assessed at the end of each term and parents will receive a report on your child's progress at the end of the academic year.

 

Are your teachers CRB checked ?

All teachers are CRB checked.

 

How large are your classes ?

Our classes are between 6 and 12 pupils.

 

Do you teach GCSE Mandarin Chinese ?

We now offer GCSE class to prepare students for their Chinese language exams. However, parents in negotiation with the teacher will have to make arrangement with their child's day school to sit the examination.

 

Are your teachers qualified ?

Our teachers are native Mandarin speakers who have gone through a selcetion process and are CRB checked.

 

What will my child learn in the lessons ?

The classes are geared towards enjoyment and appreciation of both the language and Chinese culture. Very young pupils will initially be taught to recognise characters using the pin yin system through playing activities. More able learners will learn to write characters and sentences. Learning through role play is also an important method which we use for putting the language into context.

 

Do you have any adult classes ?

We now run adult Mandarin conversation classes every Saturday at 2:15pm. For further information, please contact the School Secretary.

 

Can I get a refund if we choose not to attend planned school activities, e.g. Chinese New Year Celebration ?

We budget annually the fees exactly to pay our teachers' expenses and unfortunately cannot refund the fees. We consider these activities as an essential aid to learning the language and Chinese culture.