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Eltham College Junior School is the first school in the country to introduce Mandarin as the core foreign language learnt by all pupils. Boys in Years Three and Four helped celebrate its first “China Now!” Day with members of the local Chinese community.


Invitations to pupils from local primary schools, Ms Kate Elders, “China Now!” Officer at the British Council, Mr Lin Xu , Councillor from the Chinese Embassy and Mr Zhu Dan from the Confucious Institute, produced a broad audience enjoying the spectacle and culture of China in a colourful and action-packed day.


Junior School pupils, aged only seven and eight, demonstrated their knowledge of and skills with the newly-acquired language and everyone was able to participate in a carousel of workshops including tai-chi, lion dancing, Chinese calligraphy, mask painting and Chinese acrobatics. Mr Paul Henderson, Headmaster commented “It is essential that we recognise a global perspective in education; the next generation will need to have the confidence to communicate with the world’s most populous nation.





Bright boys aged seven or eight are not frightened by the differences of the Mandarin language, and their minds relish the intellectual challenges it poses”. A highlight of the day was the contribution of Mr Zhao Yi Zhan, the foremost Chinese calligrapher in the UK, although a Shaolin monk demonstration, Diablo juggling and jar juggling also captivated the children present, who all took something unique home from the day, be it their name written in Mandarin, a painted mask or a token of Chinese sweets as a belated welcome to the Chinese New Year of the Rat.















Mrs Angela McCullough, Mandarin teacher at Eltham College Junior School, who was instrumental in the organisation and success of the day, praised the enthusiasm and excitement of all involved.