Headteacher March News
Dear Parents and Carers
Mandarin at Tetherdown: Expanding Minds, Embracing Cultures
Since 2018, Tetherdown Primary School has proudly offered Mandarin Chinese as a core part of our inclusive and forward-thinking language curriculum—making us one of the few UK primary schools with a long-term commitment to teaching this globally significant language.
Why Mandarin? Spoken by over a billion people, Mandarin is not only the most widely spoken language in the world—it’s also a bridge to one of the world’s oldest and richest cultures. Its distinctive features—a tonal sound system and logographic (use of symbols) writing—require learners to activate both hemispheres of the brain. A University of Edinburgh study found that this dual-brain engagement boosts memory, concentration, cognitive flexibility, and problem-solving skills.
At Tetherdown, we see the benefits extend far beyond language acquisition; Mandarin supports confident, curious thinking and gives our pupils a strong foundation to continue learning at secondary schools like Fortismere and Alexandra Park, where Mandarin is offered from Year 7.
Our Mandarin journey begins in Reception, Y1 and Y2 with joyful, 15-minute weekly sessions filled with stories, songs, and play-based learning that spark early interest and build familiarity. From Year 3 onwards, children enjoy a full hour of Mandarin each week, where they develop skills in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and cultural understanding through engaging, interactive lessons.
Crucially, our curriculum is delivered by highly skilled teachers from the UCL Institute of Education. These educators join us on a prestigious two-year placement and often bring international experience from schools around the world. This year we have Nancy Li, Ning Zhang and Yanting Man. Their global outlook, enthusiasm, and deep knowledge bring Mandarin to life and provide our children with an authentic, inspiring language experience.
Many of our KS2 pupils now choose to take external Mandarin exams each year—reflecting the growing confidence and enthusiasm within the school. But more than assessments, our Mandarin programme is about connection: connecting children to global cultures, values, and ideas that broaden their understanding of the world.
One of the most exciting highlights was our Chinese New Year celebration, which transformed the school into a vibrant cultural festival. The whole school was dazzled by an energetic lion dance, traditional performances on instruments like the Guzheng and Pipa, and graceful martial arts displays. Pupils also took part in hands-on workshops, exploring calligraphy, music, and kung fu.
"I loved the lion dance—it made me laugh, and it was so cool”, said Blake (Y5). “The performance brought the culture to life,” added Esther (Y6). Teachers were equally inspired, describing the event as “mesmerising” and “a gift to our school community.”
At Tetherdown, Mandarin is more than a language—it’s a pathway to global awareness, deeper thinking, and lifelong curiosity. We’re proud to be preparing children not just for exams, but for a future in an interconnected world.
Tetherdown Shines at the Royal Albert Hall
What an unforgettable evening at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Haringey Music Festival! I felt incredibly proud to watch so many of our current and former Tetherdown pupils take part in a phenomenal celebration of music—singing, dancing, and orchestral performances that truly showcased the power of music education. A huge thank you to our gold-standard choir leaders Emily Clarkson and Jonathan Kitching for their dedication. To our amazing KS2 Choir—This World is Yours—you were outstanding! You even earned applause simply for how beautifully you stood together. Congratulations to everyone involved, especially those performing for the first time in a big production!
Bikes and Scooters at School
We are thrilled to see how many of our children are enthusiastic about cycling and scooting to school—it's a great way to stay active and start the day in a positive way!
However, as our school building was designed in 1910, we unfortunately do not have sufficient space to safely store children's bikes on site and this seems to be causing a health and safety issue. We also have several staff who cycle to work, and they, too, are struggling to find secure places to lock their bikes.
To support our pupils and make scooter storage easier, we are pleased to let you know that a new scooter bay has now been installed. All scooters must be parked within the scooter bays only. Please ensure that scooters are not left near the exit button by the gates, as this poses a safety issue.
We kindly ask that no bikes are locked to the school fencing, as this blocks pathways and creates safety concerns. We are actively looking into solutions for both bike and scooter storage, as we truly value our community’s interest in sustainable travel. Thank you for your understanding and support. Please, could we also encourage you not to let your children scooter around the playground, as there are many young children and older vulnerable adults at drop-off and collection times.
The Spring Term ends next Friday, 4th April at 2pm. The only wraparound care running on this day is breakfast club. Wishing you all a wonderful Easter break, and we look forward to welcoming the children back to school for the summer term on Tuesday, 22nd April.
Annie Ashraf
Headteacher
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