Derbyshire Schools' Languages Hub

 

Context

 

“Changes to the curriculum make foreign languages compulsory across key stage two. From 2014 onwards, students aged seven to 11 will be required to reach a high standard of written and spoken communication [in any modern or ancient foreign language].  

Scratch beneath the surface you'll see there is an enormous diversity of things happening under the label of languages at key stage two – from a few words and a song to quite rigorous teaching. For some the new curriculum and the emphasis it places on grammar and written language will be a challenge, for others it'll be business as usual.

A lack of staff expertise is also a major concern. As many as 23% have no member of staff with language competence higher than GCSE level and up to 8.5% may have no language expertise at all within their school”.[1]

Give the context outlined here, it is crucial that Primary and Secondary teachers liaise, communicate and work with each other as regularly as possible.

 

Continuity

 

Now that secondary schools will be expecting to receive pupils who have studied Languages for four years and the new curriculum will reflect this expectation, it is important that Primary and Secondary schools work together to ensure that there is continuity of teaching and learning. This needs to be in terms of the selection of target language as far as possible, and the depth of curriculum that is covered.

 

Proposal

 

To create a Language Hub to share resources and skills, this will essentially run in the following ways:

• Online via a ‘Minigroup’ website

• Termly meetings

• Visits to each others’ schools

• Expansion of network across Derbyshire

 

Resources

 

Online sharing:

• Resources

• assessment materials

• curriculum plans

 

Skills

 

• Potential for team teaching

• Mutually agreed observations

• Mutual support and advice

 

Training

 

• Collective application for Erasmus + grants (schools receive the funding to cover the cost of training  course, travel etc and in addition, receive a flat fee of around €350 as an organisational cost that can be used for supply cover - even if teachers apply for courses in half term the school receives it)

• LEAP training

• Association for Language Learning support (Const of £36 per primary school per year)

 

 

 

[1] http://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2013/may/15/languages-primary-schools-2014