From the classrooms of Pinner High School to the bustling streets of Shanghai, Year 11 graduate Sami Abbas has begun an extraordinary new chapter.
Sami has been awarded the prestigious Engage with China Scholarship 2025, giving him the opportunity to study his A Levels at Shanghai Concord Bilingual School for two years.
The fully funded scholarship, which covers tuition, boarding, flights, and daily Mandarin lessons, recognises his exceptional talent and dedication as part of the Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP) at Pinner High School.
MEP is an intensive language programme that has helped more than 16,000 school pupils in England achieve fluency in Mandarin Chinese.
As part of the programme, Sami achieved Grade 8 at Mandarin GCSE and over the summer had the opportunity to talk to the Chinese Embassy in London.
The groundbreaking Engage with China Scholarship aims to highlight the crucial role of young people in strengthening UK-China relations.
H-J Colston-Inge, co-founder of the scholarship, said: “Both governments recognise that education and people-to-people exchange are vital for long-term understanding.
“Learning about China and its language is vital for young people today – and it’s vital for the UK. That’s exactly why this programme is so important.”
Before his departure, Sami went back to Pinner High School to speak with Year 8 and 9 students currently studying as part of the MEP and share his tips for success.
The school shared with Pinnernews: “Well done and good luck, Sami!”
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