What can we learn from the successes of the Mandarin Excellence Programme? This was the question posed by Teacher Talk Radio last month in a discussion that focussed on potential takeaways for MFL teachers and school leaders looking to replicate MEP’s success.
Host Darren Lester was joined by Beth Fleming, Mandarin Teacher at Macmillan Academy, Julian Metcalf, Headteacher at Dartford Grammar School, and Matt Schofield, Programme Manager for the Mandarin Excellence Programme at UCL IOE, to discuss the MEP model and the programme’s impact on their students and schools.
The conversation covered key aspects that make MEP so impactful, such as its intensive study model that includes a trip to China in Year 9 and the provision of teacher training, resources and a hub network, as well as the impact on students’ academic attainment and broader soft skills.
Julian Metcalf explained how his school adapted the MEP model to create its own ‘Japanese Excellence Programme’, transferring key principles such as intensive study, cultural elements and high expectations. He also shared how his school approaches the timetabling challenges of the intensive MEP model, deploying after-school hours and teacher compensation time. He noted that not only do their MEP students achieve above average attainment, but they also demonstrate improved motivation, confidence and resilience.
Beth Fleming shared her personal journey from student of Mandarin to teacher at her former school in Middlesbrough in the Northeast of England. With a classroom of students from diverse backgrounds, she sees the difference that learning Mandarin makes to students’ aspirations, and how their students who participated in the China trip last year grew in confidence.
Matt Schofield shared the logistics behind the large-scale trip to China which saw 1,200 students from 62 schools visit 18 host universities across 10 cities in July 2024. He also explained how the programme operates a ‘hub and partner’ model to coordinate the 76 MEP schools to enable peer support and rollout activities locally.
Listen to the conversation to hear more valuable lessons from the adaptable MEP model to enhance the language learning experience and boost student outcomes.