Chinese performers kick-start New Year celebrations
The group from London's South Bank University (LSBU) Confucius Institute for Traditional Chinese Medicine, funded by Hanban, performed Folk and Lion Dances and demonstrated martial arts acts to students and invited primary and secondary schools from the surrounding areas.
On Tuesday there was a special evening performance at NLL for the community and prospective parents and students of Tiger Primary School.
Future Schools Trust's (FST) Community Director, Richard Jenkins, said: "The Trust's reputation for excellent Mandarin education enables us access to first class resources from the Hanban Institute, including the visiting Chinese performers. It's great to be able to share these resources with our local schools and the surrounding community."
This week at NLL Academy students are exploring elements of Chinese culture in all lessons and a special Chinese menu is being enjoyed every lunchtime.
NLL Academy has one of 272 Confucius Classrooms, established in 88 countries across the globe. All Year 7 students who join the Academy are taught Mandarin as a compulsory subject until the end of Year 8. At Cornwallis Academy all Year 7 students learn Mandarin, plus an additional European language.
In September 2012, FST, who run NLL and Cornwallis Academies, plan to open Maidstone's first new primary for 25 years. Tiger Primary School, based on the NLL site, will teach Mandarin alongside English and use the Chinese Abacus to improve student's mathematical ability.
The Trust also run a Chinese Saturday School at NLL, where children and adults have the opportunity to learn a new language and find out more about Chinese traditions and culture.
For more information about our Saturday School or Tiger Primary School please contact the Community Team by emailing community@futureschoolstrust.com or calling 01622 743286 ext.213.