Celebrating Partnerships - In Conversation with Peter Goddard from SWIRE

November 7, 2024

To celebrate partnerships week, manager for the Swire Chinese Language Foundation Scheme, Peter Goddard, tells us a little about his involvement in SWIRE and its impact on the Norwich School community and beyond.


I retired (early I might add) back in 2018, having begun my Norwich School career back in 1983. During my final ten years at Norwich School, I instigated the International Homestay Scheme at Norwich School and successfully introduced Norwich School to about 280 pupils to study at the school. It was on one of my trips to Hong Kong that I was asked by a friend at one of the Educational Agencies if I had seen details of the Swire Chinese Foundation Scheme. I very quickly submitted a proposal to the Swire Foundation in London, with Head and Governor support, and the rest as they say is history. Involvement in the scheme as it’s Manager has been a fantastic experience and has enabled me to continue the partnership work, I started at the school under the then Head – Jim Hawkins.


So, the Swire Chinese Language Foundation Scheme is a ten-year (we are in year 8) initiative funded by the wider Swire Group (Swire is a major stakeholder in Cathay Pacific, has property portfolios across Asia and is the Coca Cola franchise holder in Asia amongst many other things!). The major goal of the scheme is to widen the learning of Mandarin Chinese in Britain. Norwich School is one of 12 Centres of Excellence established across the country teaching students from aged 4 to 18+. Over time it is hoped future generations will develop a greater understanding of China.


The impact the scheme has had in Norfolk is certainly transformational. On average we teach about 1000 students per week in 12 schools across Norwich and Great Yarmouth. Students are aged form Year 4 to Year 13. We have had outstanding success at GCSE and A-Level and the numbers successful at HSK (a Chinese Assessment test) are in the low hundreds); success at HSK has led to the number of Norfolk students studying Chinese and Asian related courses to increase at university – including now Cambridge. We recently instituted online courses in Mandarin, this initiative has been super successful attracting many students beyond the reach of the Norwich and Great Yarmouth groupings.


23 pupils and 9 senior teachers recently returned from a 10 day, three centre trip to China supported by Swire. This exciting trip has really enthused still further all involved.


Of course, all the above would not be possible without the five outstanding Mandarin classroom practitioners we have in the scheme. All now employed by their partner schools. Though not a direct benefactor of funds from Swire, involvement in the scheme has enhanced the importance of Mandarin at Norwich School, the subject is now taught from Reception through to A-Level.


Direct funding ends in 2026 but our involvement ensures that many schools in Norfolk will benefit for many, many years to come.


Photo: Recent school visit from China

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