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A group of Chinese toddlers are now hanging their hats and coats on pegs at Wellington College’s first bilingual school which has opened in Shanghai .
It is the first bilingual education institution with a British tradition in the city with the children taught half and half Mandarin and English.
The school, Wellington College Bilingual Shanghai Early Years Centre, is teaching a bilingual curriculum to children of Chinese families who are aged between 2-6 years. The school is helping to meet China’s domestic demand for high-quality education.
A second phase will extend Wellington College Bilingual Shanghai Early Years Centre into Wellington College Bilingual School designed for children between 2 to 15 years in 2018.
Ms. Helen Kavanagh, International Business Director of Wellington College and Deputy Chair of Governors of Wellington College China, said: “The 21st Century’s economic globalization, the introduction of the population policy, a broader minded educational outlook of Chinese families and changes to family structures have all led to new requirements for early-years education. Against this backdrop, Wellington College and Shanghai Lujiazui Group jointly developed the ‘New Bund Wellington College Bilingual Education Project’. Thus this project is another example of our commitment to China. Chinese families will benefit from the Wellington Identity, its values, aptitudes and commitment to excellence. Further, the organisation will share research-based and approaches to learning and childhood development, proven to be successful, with Chinese families; it will contribute to the sound development of China’s early years education provision.”
Mr. Julian Thomas, the 14th Master of Wellington College, wrote in his congratulation letter on the opening: “The ground-breaking initiative will draw from the very best of the British and Chinese education systems, offering a learning experience for young children unsurpassed anywhere in the world. This is yet another example of the strength of our partnership with Wellington College, China; it is a partnership which we value deeply and remains at the heart of our educational philosophy. Few schools, if any, can match the opportunities provided by our global network of collaboration and support. We very much look forward to supporting the new Early Years Centre through its early stages and beyond.”
