An opportunity for six pupils aged 16 in the UK who have just completed their A-levels is available thanks to a partnership with educational charity, Engage with China and Wycombe Abbey International Schools (WAS). Successful applicants will enjoy two years of fully-funded private boarding school education near Shanghai in the city of Changzhou which has a population of over five million people. The school was established by WAS and BE Education and boasts that it has one of the finest music departments in China, the only boat-club and sporting facilities housed inside an air-conditioned dome.
This is an unbelievable opportunity for six young people who have little or no knowledge about China, who are intellectually curious, willing to gain competitive edge, interested in the world and who can see that China is a significant player on the world-stage. It would also be of life-changing significance, as with the golden ticket in the famous book ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’, for anyone who cannot afford a private education.
H-J Colston-Inge, Director of Engage with China
H-J added that, “our biggest challenge will be to find the lucky winners as many GCSE pupils have already left their state schools after exams and private schools will finish term this week. There is also a huge capacity pressure on teachers with recruitment, strike action and budgets as well as the need to sustain pupil retention figures. That said, we sincerely hope that schools who hear about this opportunity will be visionary on behalf of the pupils that they serve. We have had enquiries from two students already and that is really exciting!”
Since Engage with China was founded in 2018 it has reached 3,000 pupils across the key educational stages building global citizenship and competitive edge through its curriculum enrichment workshops which focus on China.
At a recent fundraising event for the charity in London, sponsored by food production firm, Cranswick Plc, global property company, Savills, and Wedlake Bell, an international law firm, the Chinese Ambassador, Zheng Zeguang, spoke about what he would want every young person in the UK to know about China.
“China has a long history and a rich culture. It is also very complicated and has many challenges. I would encourage young people in the UK to understand more about China and they might find that they even come to like it.”
The Mandarin for Excellence Programme which delivers mandarin in around 70 schools in the UK up to GCSE level is funded in part by the Chinese and British governments.
‘The opportunity for our students to continue their sixth form studies at an international school in China will be a truly transformational experience. I am delighted that it has sparked interest among our most aspirational students, who have been studying Mandarin since they started at St Birinus five years ago. Exciting times lie ahead and I cannot wait to see where this exciting journey takes them!’
Phil Mahoney, Head of Mandarin, St Birinus
Katharine Carruthers, who is Strategic Director for UCL’s delivery of the Department for Education programme was eager to share the information around the school network saying, “this is great – but tight timing.”
Whilst the China-UK geo-political relationship is suffering from a prolonged cold snap, voices like those at Engage with China are echoed by Martha Lane Fox, Founder of lastminute.com and CEO of the British Chambers of Commerce. Ms Fox asserted recently in The Times that lives can be enriched and opportunities are ready for the taking for those who are prepared to go beyond the political rhetoric.
Oliver Letwin, former MP for West Dorset until 2019 said, “What Engage with China is doing to build China literacy is splendid and worthy. It is vital to resist the trend towards unthinkingly fostered enmity and a 3rd world war. Part of the problem is that neither side knows anything much about the other. We need many more Brits that understand China. We need to let all these flowers bloom and unless we keep talking, things go from bad to worse.”
Yue Shi, Vice President of BE Education said that, “our vision is to prepare our students for being globalised citizens. They need to understand their own identity but they also need to know about the world.” It is hoped that this can be achieved through this scholarship programme, enabling six cross-culturally astute leaders of the future to emerge with relevant China-skills and who are equipped and excited to face a world where China is the dominant player.
How to apply: Any 16-year old British citizen with an academically high track record and who has just completed GCSEs can apply enclosing a CV, covering letter and an letter of endorsement from their head teacher. Closing date for applications is 15 July 2023.
Engage with China 