We are absolutely thrilled to celebrate Jessica H in year 12, who has received a prestigious commendation in the 2026 Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators, run by Queen’s College, University of Oxford! This is a monumental achievement; with over 25,000 students participating nationwide and judges reviewing more than 5,400 entries, competition for this Oxford-backed accolade was fiercer than ever. The judges remarked on the exceptionally high standard of submissions this year, making Jessica’s success a true testament to her hard work and talent. What makes this milestone so inspiring is that Jessica started learning Mandarin as a complete beginner right here at KWS, and through her dedication, she has progressed all the way to taking A-level Chinese, a journey that has also seen her participate in two fantastic school-organised trips to China to bring her studies to life.

Jessica’s journey beautifully demonstrates the incredible heights students can reach when they embrace learning Mandarin. Beyond mastering an intricate and nuanced language, studying Mandarin unlocks powerful analytical skills, fosters creative problem-solving through translation, and opens doors to vast global opportunities. Jessica has shown that with curiosity and perseverance, our students can transform from absolute beginners into linguists recognised by one of the world’s most prestigious universities. We are incredibly proud of her fantastic achievement, and we hope it inspires many more students to discover just how far learning Mandarin can take them.

Miss Hu