11 June 2014

Visit China with a trip organised by Hanban in partnership with the British Council in order to encourage the teaching and learning of Mandarin in UK schools and establish and support school partnerships between the UK and China.

Why apply?

Taking part in this trip will allow you to:

·  link up and communicate with a school in China before the trip

·  increase your networks and invest in your own professional development

·  encourage the teaching and learning of Mandarin and Chinese culture at your school

·  gain support from Hanban and the British Council in developing and sustaining a Chinese school link.

Successful applicants will also be invited to take part in a pre-departure briefing by Hanban and the British Council.

What are the costs?

Accommodation and expenses in China will be covered by Hanban but schools must pay for their own flights and visa.

Who can apply?

·  Head teachers or deputy head teachers

·  Head of languages

·  Officer from a local authority

·  Other positions will be considered on a case-by-case basis

Hanban and British Council can accept applications from schools that are starting to teach Mandarin or have a genuine intention to do so and preferably not already have a link set up with a school in China.You can still apply if your school already started teaching Mandarin and have an existing Chinese school link, and you feel such a visit will help your school further develop your Mandarin curriculum and Chinese school partnerships.

How to apply?

Essex -Jiangsu Centre for Chinese Studies intend to get a group of Essex schools together to apply as a group to maximise the benefits of the visit by working together and supporting each other before, during and after the visit. If you are interested, please complete the application form below and email to Athena Page, Essex Jiangsu Education Officer () by Tuesday 24 June 2014. Hanban and British Council will notify the outcome of application by 4 July 2014.

To find out further information:

Please visit http://schoolsonline.britishcouncil.org/programmes-and-funding/visit-china or call Athena Page on 03330130775.

2014 Head Teacher Visit to China - Application Form

Please email the completed form to by Tuesday 24 June 2014

1. Full school name:

2. Location of school:

England
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Wales

3. Unique Reference Number (URN) on Edubase:

4. Type of school:

Nursery

Primary

Middle

Secondary

FE College

Other (please specify)

5. Number of pupils:

6. Status of school:

Maintained

Federated/Academy

Free-school

Independent

Other (please specify)

7. Name of proposed traveller:

8. Position of proposed traveller:

9. Email address for all correspondence:

10. Is the proposed traveller free and able to travel to China in October 2014?
(The date is not yet set although we expect it to be 26 October-2 November)

Yes
No

11. If you are part of a group of schools applying together (for example form a town or local authority), please list the names of the other schools. Please state who is coordinating the applications on behalf of the group.

12. What is your motivation for applying for this opportunity?

To experience Chinese culture
To understand Chinese education
To make a link with a Chinese school
To find out more about Mandarin teaching
Other (please specify) :

13. On which of these themes would you be interested in working with a Chinese partner shool?

Mandarin teaching
Understanding cultural similarities and differences
Global citizenship
School management
Continued professional development for staff
Other (please specify)

14. Describe the status of Mandarin teaching in your school. Is it taught already? If so, how much, to whom and by whom? Do you expect this to increase/change? Have there been any challenges you overcame or still face?
If Mandarin is not taught, are you thinking of introducing it? If so, is it an initial idea or have you already made the plans? What is the nature of the plan? Are there any challenges holding-up your plans?

15. Do you have any active partnerships with schools in China?

Yes
No

16. If so, describe how your partnership came about. Describe what activities take place between pupils and teachers.

17. Has a representative from the school ever undertaken a similar visit to China?

Has a representative from the school ever undertaken a similar visit to China?
No

18. If so, in which year was this? Who went and what happened as a result?

19. Please add any additional information about your school or your plans that you would like taken into account.