Languages College
As the lead department in a Specialist Languages College the department exists to foster awareness and sympathetic understanding of cultures other than our own; to develop to the fullest possible extent the personal language needs of each individual; to create pleasure in the challenge of acquiring a new language
Spanish is taught from Year 7 under Mrs.Wyatt, and there is a thriving after school club on a Thursday night. Some students in this club are also completing the GCSE in Spanish course.
Year 7 pupils are assessed by their teachers and the highest achieving 25% continue to learn 2 languages throughout KS3, and the other 75% will have the chance to choose which language they prefer in July. They will continue to learn their choice at least until the end of year 9. It is an expectation that students will follow at least one language to GCSE level.
Exchanges and visits;
The French Exchange is here in March with 30 pupils from Langeais, we spend a week in Germany in June with 44 year 8 pupils, all 240 year 7 pupils will go to Calais and Boulogne in July for a day, and the German Exchange goes over in October.
Assessment in KS3;
All end of unit testing is now being done using the DCSF sponsored Language Ladder, a system like National Curriculum, except that it continues in steps up to Degree level.
Mandarin;
We have had two days already of Mandarin lessons in the College. It has been well received by the pupils, who find it difficult yet appealing.
Junior CULP (Cambridge University Language Programme);
Some year 11 students have extra lessons at the Cambridge University Language Centre, in order to boost their skills and confidence.
In Year 7 French and German are taught to all students. At the end of Year 7 more able students continue with the study of both languages for an equal amount of time, others study one language through Key Stages 3 and 4. The National Curriculum Programme of Study and Teacher Assessment are followed in German and French. The Department has an excellent record both in the take up in the Upper School and in terms of GCSE Examination results.
There is a flourishing programme of short visits and longer exchanges to France and Germany, starting in Year 7 with a day visit to France.
There is still, of course, much debate about the place of Britain in a wider Europe. Whatever views one holds, it is vital that our children are equipped with the confidence, both socially and linguistically, to take advantage of what Europe has to offer. It is now much more than a holiday destination : there are real jobs there, and exciting prospects for trade and commerce. These are no longer only the preserve of the specialist linguist, so we must ensure that we send our students out with an understanding of the processes of language acquisition and a positive attitude to the opportunities which Europeanisation offers.
The Department is staffed strongly with a stable group of specialists dedicated to the long, as well as the short, term challenges of current teaching.