Confucius Classroom

Confucius classroom at loreto secondary school bray (since 2010)

Loreto Secondary School, Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland is an all-girls Catholic second level school. In addition to offering the standard Leaving and Junior Certificate programmes, Loreto Bray also offers the Transition Year Programme and an enhanced Leaving Certificate Programme called the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP).Loreto Bray also offers a wide range of extracurricular programmes to its students. In the area of sport, students have the opportunity to participate in hockey, basketball, badminton, table tennis, soccer, Gaelic football, rugby and other sports. Drama, debating, French, German and Spanish Language Societies and a Peace & Justice Group are among the other activities available in the school.

During the school year 2006/2007 the school Principal, in consultation with a number of staff members explored the option of offering a programme of Chinese Studies to students in Loreto Bray. Ambassador Zhang Xinsen was contacted by letter at the Chinese Embassy, seeking support and guidance on how best to introduce a Chinese studies programme into the school. A representative of the Ambassador responded to the school’s letter and suggested contact be made with the Confucius Institute for Ireland. The school was also informed of the recently established links between the Confucius Institute and University College Dublin (UCD).

Following talks with the UCD Confucius Institute, Loreto Bray was delighted to introduce a Confucius Institute funded programme of Chinese studies into the school. The programme started in September of the school year 2007/2008 and was offered to first year students. It was intended that the Chinese Studies Programme would continue throughout the six years the girls spent in second level school. It was further intended that the students would, at the end of the six years have achieved a reasonable level of proficiency in the Chinese language.

The Confucius Classroom programme stated aim of ‘developing Chinese teaching and learning in local …secondary schools and enhancing the mutual understanding and friendship between young people of both countries’  was a goal the school found it could readily embrace. Consequently, following consultation with the Board of Management, the Principal was authorised to seek approval from the Confucius Institution for the establishment of a Confucius Classroom in Loreto Secondary School, Bray. In 2010, with the helo of UCD Confucius Institute, Loreto Secondary School Bray successfully became the first Confucius Classroom in Ireland.

Confucius Classroom at Stepaside Educate Together Secondary School (since 2022)

Stepaside Educate Together Secondary School opened its doors in September 2016 under the patronage of Educate Together.  There are currently 460 students and 40 teachers working together on site. The school is presently housed in prefabs on the site allocated for the new school building which will house 1,000 students when it is completed.

The culture of the school is based on four core principles; it is co-educational, equality-based, democratic and student-centred. Stepaside Educate Together Secondary School is committed to achieving the highest standards possible as we aim to ensure that every student reaches their full potential. Adopting a 21st Century learning approach, we strive to provide an environment where students develop not only their academic abilities but also their life skills. This enables them to apply critical thinking, innovative and creative skills as they prepare for their future. We also encourage students to prioritise wellbeing and active citizenship throughout their schooling. Stepaside Educate Together Secondary School is a Microsoft flagship school and is considered a "Digital school of Excellence". All students use tablets in the classroom and teachers create and upload class content via One Note lessons, while communication with students and remote classes are streamed via Microsoft Teams.

The school has developed strong foundations in the local community and some teachers are involved as co-researchers with academics. The school has also participated in the Erasmus + project, hosts exchange students from other countries and was very active in the Teaching for a sustainable tomorrow (TFAST) project with representatives from Erasmus.

Confucius Classroom at Clongowes Wood College (since 2011)

Clongowes Wood College was founded in 1814 as a Jesuit boarding school for boys. It is located in a rural setting west of Dublin and has approximately 450 students, all of whom are boarders.  The school's mission is to educate its students according to the best traditions and highest standards of Jesuit schooling and the values of the Gospel. It offers a diverse range of activities to its pupils so that the education of the whole person might be achieved in some measure. 

Clongowes is very much at the forefront of Irish education and has become the boarding school of choice. In 2009 some 37% of our students received 500 or more CAO points out of a possible total of 600. A remarkable feat in view of our open admissions policy and the fact that in some subjects the percentages of students awarded a Leaving Certificate grade 'A' nationally is in the low single digits. The College embraces an open, non-academic, bursary programme for those from a lower socio-economic background. All of our students go on to attend universities at home or abroad. The school provides leaders at all levels of society. The College Library is named after our most famous alumnus James Joyce.

Following initial contact by John Conway with the Confucius Institute UCD during the Autumn/Winter of 2007 and a visit to Clongowes by a delegation from the Confucius Institute by Dr. Liming Wang, Dr.Lan Li and Ms. Angie Bailey, a one day Introduction to Chinese Language and Culture was held here in Clongowes in December 2007. The participants were Transition Year (Humanities) students and such was the success of the day that an Introduction to Chinese Culture and Language course was run here in Clongowes from January 2008 until May 2009, involving 1st year, 2nd year and 4th year students. The teacher was Ms. Angie Bailey. 

Here at Clongowes we feel honoured to be working with our colleagues from UCD Confucius Institute for Ireland. We want our students to be exposed to Chinese language and culture from 1st Year on and in this respect we wish to support the Institute in their efforts to have Chinese introduced as an examination subject in both the Junior and Leaving Certificate Examinations.

Confucius Classroon at Belvedere College S.J. (since 2011)

 The College is a Catholic school under the trusteeship of the Society of Jesus.  Set in the centre of Dublin city, it continues today a tradition of over 170 years in the Jesuit approach to education.

Belvedere has dedicated teachers who are committed to high academic standards.  The College provides a rich and diverse curriculum catering for the needs of each individual student.  It strives for excellence also in areas of sport and culture, social concern, and spiritual values, wherein students are encouraged and challenged to realise their full potential as human beings.

The mission of the Belvedere Community – Jesuits, Board, Staff, Parents, Present Students and Past Pupils – is to ensure that graduates of the College by their relationship with Jesus Christ and through living gospel values, shall be persons for others in leadership and example in the pursuit of a just world.

Belvedere College seeks to develop within each student a positive self image, a strong work ethic and a sense of responsibility to their community –both the community that is our school and the community within which each student lives.

Our relationship with the Confucius Institute is excellent and their delivery of the Transition Year programme has been exemplary.  Therefore the natural development is to begin the Chinese Studies option in First Year as an option in our co-curricular programme.  Co-curricular activities are central to our educational provision. 

Confucius Classroom at Blackrock College (since 2011)

Blackrock is a living, thriving institution.  Consequently, hand in hand with our willingness to learn and benefit from the past is a quest to embrace change and to move forward.  The modern world is not a static one.  We recognise that our response must be simultaneously proactive and reactive in order to provide the boys with the skills, knowledge, values and adaptability they will need to take their place in society.

We measure the success of Blackrock by the contribution we make to the development in each student of a sharp sense of justice, a desire for a more caring and compassionate society, independence of mind, honesty in communication and respect for the dignity of all.

The boarding school, located in Williamstown Castle, is home to one hundred boys from all year groups.  Boarders are, and always have been, unique members of the Blackrock community.  Their experience of the school is, by its nature, a very comprehensive one. Traditionally, the bond between boarders and Blackrock has been particularly strong.

During the school year 2009/2010 the school Principal, explored the option of offering a programme of Chinese Studies to students in Blackrock College.

Mr MacGinty met with Dr Liming Wang seeking support and guidance on how best to introduce a Chinese studies programme into the school.

Confucius Classroom at Our Lady’s Grove Secondary School (since 2014)

Our Lady’s Grove Secondary School is a Catholic Community in keeping with the educational philosophy of St. Claudine Thevenet and the sacred ethos of the school. We are committed to providing a quality education in pursuit of excellence. Our Lady’s Grove Secondary School endeavour to provide a teaching and learning environment, which encourages the school community to develop to its full potential cognisant of all its talents and skills. They aim to work together in a safe, respectful, caring and just environment. We value the principles of mutual respect, equality and tolerance encouraging positive self-image, confidence and pride in all achievements.

Our Lady’s Grove Secondary School has fostered an excellent working relationship with the Confucius Institute. Our programme commenced in 2012 and we look forward to bolstering our friendship with a successful application to become a Confucius classroom. We wish for our common interests in culture, language and education to extend well into the decades ahead. Our Chinese department consists of a growing number of enthusiastic teachers. Together, our department structures planning by holding weekly meetings to discuss the success of our Chinese programme and to discuss areas where we wish to improve.  We endeavour to reflect upon using the strengths of the school to best enhance the Chinese experience for the students. Our teachers have collaborated to produce a broad and ambitious Chinese Short Course to be included in the new JCSA programme which begins in August, 2014.  

In 2013, Our Lady’s Grove Secondary School hosted a Chinese classroom as part of our Open Evening.  We felt this was essential to promote our affinity with Chinese to the public. Music, crafts and dress were included in this very popular attraction. The feedback received from parents in the local community was highly encouraging. 

In Our Lady’s Grove Secondary School we constantly consider and reflect on the contribution Chinese Culture and Language Studies has made to the education of our students. In our self - evaluation we continue to look for ways to improve what we offer. We look forward to working with the Confucius Institute to achieve this aim.

Confucius Classroom at Our Lady's School Terenue (since 2014)

Our Lady's School is a Catholic Voluntary Secondary School for girls. It caters for over 770 students. Our Lady's School was founded in 1953 by the Religious of Christian Education, a Congregation founded in Normandy in the aftermath of the French Revolution. The educational tradition of the Congregation is to create conditions in which each pupil can attain her full potential and develop her personal gifts and talents.

The school was founded in order to provide an educational experience based on academic excellence, the formation of a strong value system and the development of the whole person. It is a member of the Le Chéile Schools Trust. 

Our academic programme aims to provide a broad and balanced curriculum so that all our students have the opportunity to succeed at the highest level of their own individual talents and abilities. Students are encouraged to be the best that they can be, to strive for excellence and to contribute to the school community in a positive manner. Student progress is monitored by the Year Team including a Year Head and Form Tutors. Additional supports are provided by the Care Team, which includes two Career Guidance Counsellors. 

The Transition Year Chinese programme covers both a Chinese Language Option and a separate Chinese Culture and Language Module. The Chinese language module is granted to the first 30 successful applicants. These students will learn Mandarin over the course of 1 year. Students who take this language option are obliged to sit the YCT examination in UCD. Throughout the year, the students will study the Kuaile Hanyu book series. There are three 40 minute periods devoted to the language module each week. 

Confucius Classroom at Kildare Town Community School (since 2019) 

Kildare Town Community School is a multi-denominational, co-educational post primary school under the joint trusteeship of Kildare & Wicklow Educational and Training Board and the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin.

The school opened in September 2011 following the amalgamation of the Presentation Secondary school, St Joseph`s Academy/De La Salle Secondary school and Kildare Vocational School. Our state-of-the-art facilities are provided under a Public Private Partnership model. Kildare Its mission and ethos are reflected in our motto of 'Illuminate Love Serve'. Our aim is to ensure that the pupils of Kildare Town and its environs have access to curricular and extra-curricular programmes that are appropriate to their needs, the latest and best teaching methodologies and state of the art facilities.

The school emphasises the importance of respect for self and others, the importance of hard work, perseverance, and the value and worth of every individual. We have high expectations for our students and encourage our students to achieve to the highest level they are capable of in all aspects of their lives. We aim to enable our students to develop into responsible, productive, and caring citizens.

Confucius Classroom at Kildare Town Community School has been launched in 2019 and the Chinese language and culture class has been offered to TY students and as a short course option.