Congratulations to the Confucius Classroom at Dartford Grammar School on winning 2013 Confucius Classroom of the Year.
The Confucius Classroom at Dartford Grammar School (DGS) is one of 37 IOE Confucius Classrooms in England.
Liu Yandong, Vice Premier of the People’s Republic of China, presented the award to John Oakes, Headmaster of DGS, on Saturday 7 December 2013 at a special awards ceremony in Beijing as part of the 8th Confucius Institute Conference. More than 2,200 attendees from across the world took part in the conference.
Dartford Grammar School was one of just five Confucius Classrooms selected for this award from the 646 that currently exist worldwide. As of December 2013, there are 440 Confucius Institutes and 646 Confucius Classrooms established in 120 countries and regions across the world.
Headmaster John Oakes introduced Mandarin Chinese into the curriculum at DGS in Kent back in 2009. The Chinese department has grown from strength to strength ever since, under Confucius Classroom Manager and Head of Mandarin, Paul Tyskerud, and his excellent team.
Click here to access teaching resources created by the team at DGS
Click here to read about a recent network meeting hosted by DGS
8th Confucius Institute Conference, Beijing
Chris Husbands, Director of IOE, Katharine Carruthers, Director of IOE CI and Sarah Clark Headteacher of The Queen’s School, Chester (IOE Confucius Classroom) were also present at the conference.
Pictures from the 8th Confucius Institute Conference, Beijing

Awards Ceremony at the 8th Confucius Institute Conference, Beijing

All award winners from different categories

Vice Premier Liu Yandong congratulates John Oakes

DGS Mandarin team with their Confucius Classroom plaque, May 2013