The Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP) was expanded into the Sixth Form in the 2023/24 academic year.

Since 2016 the focus of the MEP had been on students being on track to fluency in Mandarin Chinese in Years 7 to 11, with the study of Chinese post-GCSE being encouraged. More than 3,000 MEP pupils have now completed their study from Year 7 to Year 11 and have sat GCSE’s, achieving excellent results.

With the number of MEP students sitting GCSE increasing each year, larger cohorts of MEP students will continue their learning journey into the sixth form and beyond, all the while working towards improving the UK’s China capability.

A further 1,200 MEP pupils are expected to sit GCSE Chinese in 2025, and many will have plans to continue learning Chinese into the sixth form and then continue their studies at university in the UK or China. Students may also explore options for a gap year such as scholarships, and have aspirations to eventually find work in China or find work where they put their Chinese language skills into practice.

This short film gives an insight into the future paths that MEP Sixth Form students would like to follow.

All MEP Sixth Forms teach one or a combination of qualifications in Key Stage 5 – either A-Levels, IB or HSK 4.

The first cohort of 10 MEP Sixth Forms were established at the start of the 2023/24 academic year and a further 10 MEP Sixth Forms were established in 2024/25.

The MEP Sixth Forms offer pupils already participating in the MEP with a seamless pathway with their Chinese language studies into Key Stage 5 and will continue to do so throughout the lifespan of the MEP and beyond. They assist IOE with their pedagogy expertise and with identifying and working towards removing barriers to studying Mandarin at Key Stage 5. They contribute to national dialogues about teaching Chinese in Key Stage 5, and support and advise other teachers across the MEP Sixth Form network by sharing teaching resources, hosting enrichment activities and attending MEP teacher training events.