News & Events

A newsroom of ongoing educational work.

Latest developments from SinoUK ITDC, our partner schools and the University of Sunderland — professional development, UK QTS certification, publications and school partnership activity.

Featured

Most significant recent developments.

Three flagship stories from the past academic year — partnership, policy and publication.

Jiangsu International Teacher Development QTS Pilot 2025–2028 proposal cover page

University PartnershipJuly 2026

Jiangsu International Teacher Development QTS Pilot (2025–2028) proposal submitted

SinoUK ITDC has prepared a formal proposal for a three-year QTS Pilot programme in Jiangsu Province, developed in partnership with the University of Sunderland's School of Education. The pilot sets out how the Assessment Only Route to UK Qualified Teacher Status can be scaled across public and international schools in Jiangsu, aligned with the province's 2035 education strategy. The document has been prepared for the Jiangsu Provincial Education Department and outlines governance, assessor training, mentoring structures and quality assurance.

QTS Expansion Project and Jiangsu Powerhouse Education 2025–2035 Initiative summary poster

Educational LeadershipJuly 2026

QTS Expansion Project and Jiangsu Powerhouse Education 2025–2035 Initiative announced

A new expansion initiative sets out how SinoUK ITDC will support schools across Jiangsu Province to develop UK-qualified teachers, extend bilingual STEM provision and open longer-term residency pathways for international educators. Delivered in partnership with Yew Wah International Education Schools (YWIES) and the University of Sunderland, the initiative connects UK teacher standards to provincial education planning for the coming decade.

UK Qualified Teacher Status Standards and Practice Guide bilingual edition cover

Printed copy of the UK QTS Standards and Practice Guide

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PublicationsMay 2026

Publication: UK Qualified Teacher Status — Standards and Practice Guide (bilingual)

SinoUK ITDC has published a bilingual English–Chinese practitioner guide setting out the professional standards, evidence requirements and mentoring practice that underpin the Assessment Only Route to UK Qualified Teacher Status. Written by A. J. Greaves QTS and translated by YangYang Li, the guide is intended for teachers, mentors and school leaders working on QTS submissions with the University of Sunderland. ISBN 978-1-739000-25-6.

Latest updates

Chronological record of recent activity.

Newest first. Where multiple photographs belong to the same event, they are grouped into a single entry with a small gallery.

QTS certificate for Liping Chen, 15 April 2026

QTS certificate for Xiaoqing Caroline Jin

QTS certificate for Graham Martin O'Donoghue

Freshly received QTS certification letters

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April 2026UK Qualified Teacher Status

Four teachers awarded UK QTS by the Department for Education

Liping Chen, Xiaoqing Caroline Jin, Jielin Xu and Graham Martin O'Donoghue received UK Qualified Teacher Status certificates from the Department for Education, following completion of the Assessment Only Route delivered with the University of Sunderland. Each teacher was mentored through classroom observation, professional evidence submission and formal assessment by SinoUK ITDC over the course of the academic year.

Teachers holding professional recognition cards at a partner-school ceremony

March 2026Teacher Recognition

Partner-school recognition ceremony for QTS-completing teachers

During an in-school ceremony at a British international partner school, teachers completing key milestones on the SinoUK QTS pathway were presented with recognition cards from senior leadership. Ceremonies of this kind mark cohort progress and are held alongside routine mentoring and observation cycles across the academic year.

October 2025School Partnerships

SinoUK QTS project featured in YWIES parent–school newsletter

The YWIES parent–school newsletter published a feature on the SinoUK QTS project, describing what the appointment of a UK-qualified Chemistry Senior Project Leader means for families, students and the wider school community. The piece placed the QTS partnership in the context of the school's international curriculum offer.

Emergency First Response Instructor certificate awarded 5 October 2025

October 2025Continuing Professional Development

Andrew Greaves qualifies as an Emergency First Response Instructor

Following completion of the Emergency First Response Instructor course at Gravity Diving Resort (PADI 5 Star IDC), Andrew Greaves is now qualified to deliver Primary and Secondary Care and Care for Children training to teaching staff. The qualification extends SinoUK ITDC's in-school safeguarding and first aid CPD offer to partner schools.

TES Safeguarding Child Protection Refresher 2025 certificate

October 2025Safeguarding CPD

TES Safeguarding — Child Protection Refresher 2025 completed

Andrew Greaves completed the TES Safeguarding Child Protection Refresher 2025, maintaining current safeguarding certification alongside senior leadership responsibilities at Yew Wah International Education School of Shanghai Lingang.

Support letter from Ian Elliott, University of Sunderland — page 1

Support letter from Ian Elliott, University of Sunderland — page 2

Support letter opened on-screen ahead of formal submission

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September 2025University Partnership

University of Sunderland endorses Education Excellence & QTS Development Centre at YWIES Lingang

Ian Elliott, Senior Lecturer and University Governor at the University of Sunderland, issued a formal letter of support for the appointment of Andrew Greaves as Senior Project Leader for National Education Talent (QTS Programme) at YWIES Lingang. The letter records the University's endorsement of a new Education Excellence and QTS Development Centre based at the school.

SinoUK Teacher Development Forum bilingual launch banner

August 2025New Partnerships

SinoUK Teacher Development Forum launched

SinoUK ITDC established a bilingual Teacher Development Forum, providing a shared platform for Chinese and UK educators to exchange practice around mentoring, assessment and school-based CPD. The Forum operates alongside the QTS mentorship programme and supports schools working towards UK teacher-standard alignment.

YWIES 'Star of the Month' recognition poster for Andy Greaves, Chemistry Teacher

July 2025Teacher Recognition

YWIES names Andy Greaves 'Star of the Month' — Chemistry Teacher

Yew Wah International Education School of Shanghai Lingang recognised Andy Greaves as its Chemistry 'Star of the Month', highlighting one-to-one chemistry tutoring provided to students in preparation for external assessments and the personal dedication shown to students inside and outside timetabled lessons.

Cambridge Chemistry Challenge Silver Award — YWIES student Charles

Handwritten thank-you note from the student to his teacher

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June 2025Student Success

Student wins Silver Award at the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge 2024

A Lower-Sixth chemistry student mentored at YWIES Lingang, Charles X., received a Silver Award in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge (C3L6) — a national competition hosted by the University of Cambridge's Department of Chemistry. The award reflects several months of one-to-one tutoring and independent problem-based study.

Andy Greaves with two YWIES Lingang senior students following a chemistry session

June 2025School Partnerships

Working alongside students at YWIES Lingang

Documented visit to YWIES Lingang Chemistry Department, working directly with senior students in the laboratory alongside Chinese and international teaching colleagues. Visits of this kind support in-classroom mentoring and evidence collection for teachers on the QTS pathway.

Publications

Professional guides and educational resources.

Documents, guides and programme papers produced by the Centre and its partners.

Practice guide

UK Qualified Teacher Status — Standards and Practice Guide

Bilingual EN / 中文 · ISBN 978-1-739000-25-6 · 2025

Practitioner guide setting out UK QTS standards, evidence requirements and mentoring practice for the Assessment Only Route.

Programme document

Jiangsu International Teacher Development QTS Pilot (2025–2028)

Prepared for the Jiangsu Provincial Education Department

Three-year pilot proposal in partnership with the University of Sunderland to scale the Assessment Only Route to QTS across Jiangsu Province.

Newsletter feature

SinoUK QTS project — YWIES parent–school newsletter

October 2025

Feature explaining the QTS partnership to school families and community members at Yew Wah International Education School of Shanghai.

External CPD

PADI Undersea Journal — Q4 quarterly issue

Professional Association of Diving Instructors

Ongoing external professional reading maintained alongside teacher-development work, supporting safeguarding and instructor-level qualifications.

Looking ahead

Upcoming events, workshops and future collaborations.

A short list of scheduled activity for the academic year ahead.

18 April 2026

London, UK

SinoUK Annual Symposium on Teacher Development

Two-day symposium bringing together educators, researchers and policy makers from China and the United Kingdom.

22 May 2026

Beijing, China

Workshop — Instructional coaching in practice

A practical workshop for school leaders and mentors on running effective instructional coaching cycles.

10 September 2026

Online

Webinar — Preparing for the UK QTS portfolio

An introduction to the UK QTS portfolio for teachers considering the pathway.

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Get in touch

Partner with us to develop the next generation of teachers.

Whether you lead a school, university or education authority, we welcome conversations about mentoring, CPD programmes and long-term collaboration.

Contact the Centre About SinoUK ITDC