Noteworthy News

Year 12 Economics and Business Studies Visit to the International Maritime Organization (IMO)

Year 9 Mandarin Excellence Programme China Visit - A Journey to Remember

Our Year 9 Mandarin Excellence Programme students had an unforgettable visit to Guangdong University of Foreign Studies in Guangzhou in July 2026, and we could not be prouder of them. Throughout the trip, they showed an outstanding attitude to learning, embraced every opportunity, and represented Christ's College Finchley with maturity, kindness and respect. Our host university and hotel staff were full of praise for our students' excellent behaviour, enthusiasm and impeccable manners.

During the trip, students took part in immersive Mandarin lessons, worked with Chinese language partners, visited a local secondary school, explored Guangzhou's history and culture, and enjoyed experiences including calligraphy, martial arts, paper cutting, dim sum, and meeting UK professionals working in China.  At the Closing Ceremony, our students confidently performed the well-known Cantonese song Red Sun (红日 hung4 yat6), receiving a warm reception from the audience. They returned with improved language skills, greater confidence and a much deeper understanding of Chinese culture.

We are also delighted that Kiyomi, Scarlett, and Ms Woo were interviewed by Yangcheng Evening News (羊城晚报 yángchéng wǎnbào), one of Guangzhou's largest and most influential newspapers, highlighting our students' experiences and the value of international educational exchange (please see link 1 and link 2 for the interviews).

A huge thank you to Mr Baron and Mr Blyghton for guiding and looking after our students so brilliantly throughout the trip. Thank you also to Ms Cowan for keeping our school community updated on our Instagram account - even over the weekend!

Special thanks to Ms Hong for linking the trip to our Mandarin lessons, making the learning even more meaningful, to Ms Wilmott for her medical support, care and attention throughout the trip, and to Ms Wang and Ms Bone for the enormous amount of administrative work behind the scenes.

Finally, thank you to our Headteacher Dr. Hill, Senior Leader Team, especially Mr Nielsen and Mr Georgiades, and all colleagues who helped make this prestigious opportunity possible, and to our parents for your continued trust and support. We are also incredibly grateful to our partners at the UCL Institute of Education, the British Council, CLEC (Centre for Language Education and Cooperation), and our host, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS), for their continued support in providing such an enriching international learning experience.

Most importantly, well done to our wonderful students. You were fantastic ambassadors for Christ's College Finchley, and we are incredibly proud of everything you achieved.

Kind regards,

Ms J Woo

Head of Mandarin