Mandarin Expansion Programme for the Department for Education contract award March 2016 (indicative)

China is a country of huge strategic importance to the UK and education plays a key role in developing that wider relationship with important economic, educational and diplomatic benefits. The Government firmly believes that learning other languages is important in our globalised economy, as well as helping pupils to prepare for life in modern Britain.

On 22 September the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced funding of £10 million for at least 5,000 additional pupils to be taught Mandarin in schools in England by 2020.

The purpose of the programme is to deliver a minimum of 5,000 speakers of Mandarin on their way to a high level (HSK level V ) of fluency by 2020. This does not include native Mandarin speakers.

A key requirement of the programme is to implement a rigorous programme of study to the most able students. Schools must also be equipped with the resources and teaching expertise to provide this with confidence.

The contract will include break clauses at the end of each year and an option to extend.

Broad Aims The programme will: • start in September 2016 with year 7 pupils, be demanding and intensive and focus on a relatively small number of schools; • be rigorous and involve the study of Mandarin by the most able and motivated pupils for eight hours a week made up of a combination of class-time teaching, after school teaching and self- study; • supply a sufficient number of teachers that are recruited and trained centrally; • give pupils an experience of China through visits and/or online contact; and • embed effective, sustainable teaching practices that will continue to increase Mandarin teaching beyond the funding of this project.

Further information can be downloaded from the 'Attachments' section.

Additional information: Supplier Engagement Event DfE intends to hold a Supplier Engagement Event on 9 December 2015 in central London. This event will provide an opportunity for all interested suppliers to review the current iterations of the Statement of Requirements, enable dialogue with potential suppliers and to provide a Q&A forum. Information will also be available on the proposed procurement process and timetable and suppliers will be able to meet key members of the DfE project team involved in this procurement.

DfE intends to contract with either a supplier who proposes to offer the whole service (with or without subcontractors) or a consortium of suppliers who have joined together to offer the whole service. At the bidding stage a consortium must be either a legal entity or have a lead organisation which is authorised to act on behalf of its members with which DfE can contract. Suitably qualified Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) who consider that they have the necessary skills and experience to support the programme are encouraged to attend the Supplier Engagement Event.

Disclaimers and conditions: No information provided by the DfE, contained in this notice or in any communication made between DfE and any party in connection with the Mandarin Expansion Programme contract shall be relied upon as constituting a contract, or representation that any contract will necessarily be offered.

DfE reserves the right to change without notice any documents and communications, in whole or in part during the procurement process for the Mandarin Expansion Programme contract. Under no circumstances shall DfE incur any liability in respect of any documentation issued as part of this process nor shall DfE reimburse any costs incurred by any parties in connection with attendance or participation at the planned Supplier Engagement Event on 9 December 2015.

It would be appreciated if suppliers could pre-register to attend this Supplier Engagement Event by emailing: [email protected] by 8 December 2015. Suppliers must send their attendees names (no more than two per organisation attending) and the organisation name. This information will be shared with all other attendees. Venue details will be emailed to all attendees.

The supplier event will be used to help finalise requirements. It is intended that those who join the supplier event will be able to give their thoughts on the specification above and on particular issues that we will raise on the day.