PRIORITY 1C: PROVISION OF
MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES AT KS2
Objective
To provide primary schools, working in partnership with secondary
schools, with the opportunity to provide modern foreign languages
at Key Stage 2. As set out in the national strategy for language
learning Languages Count the Welsh Assembly Government is committed
to improving opportunities for the learning of modern foreign languages.
To address this, CILT Cymru with funding from the Welsh Assembly
Government has been piloting the provision of modern foreign languages
at Key Stage 2 with 118 primary schools along with 18 associated
secondary schools around Wales since 2003.
A recent independent evaluation of the pilots concluded that:
- there was huge a enthusiasm for language learning at Year 6 with
pupils relishing the experience and parents welcoming the opportunity
for their children to begin to learn a modern foreign language;
- an approach based on speaking and listening provided a firm basis
for both engaging young people and providing the foundations for
further learning and progression on transfer to secondary education;
- based on the CILT Cymru guidance of a minimum of 19 hours’
teaching during the school year primary school teachers were able
to accommodate MFL teaching and to begin to build links with other
areas of language learning and subjects such as geography
and history;
- secondary schools reported that the pupils involved in the pilot
entered Year 7 with an enthusiasm for MFL and the knowledge and
skills to make accelerated progress in addressing the Key Stage
3 curriculum.
The evaluation concluded that although a number of approaches could
be taken in delivery the most effective lay in collaboration between
a cluster of primary schools working with a partner secondary school.
This enabled the primary schools to make best use of the expertise
and resources of the secondary schools and provided an effective
basis for continuity in learning on movement of pupils to Year 7.
On this basis it has been agreed that resources be made available
in the Better Schools Fund to enable primary schools to provide
modern foreign languages on a non statutory basis from September
2008.
Drawing on the evaluation such provision should be:
- based on the non statutory framework for the provision of modern
foreign languages at Key Stage 2 developed as part of the recent
review of the schools curriculum and assessment arrangements;
- targeted initially at Year 6 although schools may wish to consider
introducing such provision at an earlier age;
- based on clusters of primary schools working in partnership with
a secondary school to make best use of resources and expertise and
provide for continuity in learning on transfer to Year 7;
- focussed on enhancing transition arrangements, making reference
to the ‘Crossing Bridges’ non-statutory guidance produced
by ACCAC in 2005; and make best use of ICT to support delivery for
example though use of ICT networks and video conferencing.
Eligible Expenditure
- Training for teachers and other staff to support the delivery
of modern foreign languages in Key Stage 2.
- Costs related to staff from partner schools coming together to
review and improve teaching and learning of modern foreign languages
in Key Stage 2 and progression to Key Stage 3.
- The development of locally produced material to support improved
transition arrangements for modern foreign languages.
- The salary and subsistence of staff, including secondary school
staff supporting the delivery of modern foreign languages in primary
schools.
- The purchase of materials to be used to improve specific aspects
of the learning of modern foreign languages.
- Grant funding may also be used to provide training against these
headings for staff in special schools and peripatetic staff.
Other information
CILT Cymru is able to provide advice on all aspects of the teaching
of modern foreign languages and specifically on provision at Key
Stage 2. It is recommended, therefore, that local authorities and
schools consult CILT Cymru in developing such provision. CILT Cymru
can also advise on calculation of costs. For example, the evaluation
of the Key Stage 2 pilots concluded that the £1500 provided
for each primary school (when match-funded by the school, cluster
or LEA), and £400 for secondary schools to cover overheads
including meetings, was adequate to deliver a modern foreign language
where developed and delivered with partner schools. It is suggested
therefore that this figure
be adopted as a reference point for the allocation of grant to provide
modern foreign languages at Key Stage 2.
CILT Cymru (The National Centre for Languages) can be contacted
at 1st Floor, Cambrian Buildings, Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff,
CF10 5FL (02920) 48 0137 or via the Centre’s website at www.ciltcymru.org.uk
Contact their Primary Language Advisers email: carolyn.goodwin@ciltcymru.org.uk
(English medium) nia.jones@ciltcymru.org.uk
(Welsh medium)
The definition of a modern foreign language is as set out in the
Modern Foreign Languages in the National Curriculum in Wales, Key
Stages 2 - 3, as ‘one or more of the official working languages
of the European Union (Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish,
French, German, Modern Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian,
Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish)
and may in addition offer any language for which there is a substantial
demand and which the school can resource.
The following publications are relevant to planning activities under
this Priority:
- Languages Count, The National Strategy for Modern Foreign Languages
in Wales (Welsh Assembly Government, 2002)
- Modern Foreign Languages in the National Curriculum in Wales,
Key Stages 2 - 3 (Welsh Assembly Government, 2007). The non-statutory
framework is included at Annex A of this document
- Evaluation of the Key Stage 2 MFL pilot projects. People and Work
Unit. (Welsh Assembly Government, 2007) – a summary can be
downloaded from the CILT
Cymru KS2 homepage.
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