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Dene Magna School - modern foreign languages

Background

Dene Magna is an 11-16 mixed comprehensive with 800 students on roll. It serves a largely rural community in Gloucestershire. Approximately 18 per cent of the students have special educational needs without statements. The school is a specialist technology college and a Leading Edge School.

Modern foreign languages at key stage 4

At key stage 3, all students learn French in year 7. In years 8 and 9, more able students also study a second foreign language. This used to be German, but changed to Spanish with effect from September 2004. All three languages are offered to GCSE at key stage 4, although German will be phased out.

Until September 2004, a modern foreign language (MFL) was part of the core curriculum at key stage 4. However, in the interests of greater flexibility for students, MFL is now part of the entitlement provision and has become an option for year 10 students. French appears in two option blocks, German in one and Spanish in one.

The MFL department aims to maintain a high profile in the school. This year, during the whole school International Week, which aims to raise students’ global awareness, MFL teachers offered taster lessons in Russian, Italian, Swahili and Spanish. Conscious that the value of continuing the study of a language had to be emphasised more emphatically to students, the school and the MFL department developed specific strategies to encourage students to opt for a language. Each student had an individual interview with a member of the senior management team to discuss their choice of options, and these interviews reinforced the importance of languages.

The department also encouraged students by inviting outside speakers to talk to year 9 about the importance of languages in the workplace. This year they invited speakers from the Army Intelligence Corps, the International Office of Gloucester LEA and a tour operator. These talks were very successful and helped students to see how languages are used in the ‘real world’. Plans for the future include inviting speakers from a holiday company and a flight attendant from an international airline.

The head of the MFL department explains language courses at key stage 4 so that students are clear what they will be doing. French is offered to all students and German and Spanish to those who study two languages at key stage 3. Spanish was offered this year for the first time as a beginners’ course. Students have five hours of language teaching per fortnight in year 10, and six hours in year 11. In addition to this, as part of its work as a Leading Edge School, the school organises extended learning afternoons. Departments bid for time for a range of activities and the MFL department uses this time for extra speaking activities and practice in year 11.

As a result of the recruitment drive, the uptake within a completely free option system has been encouraging. Overall approximately 50 per cent of students have chosen to continue studying a language, with 49 students for French, 23 for Spanish and 12 for German. Among these students there are 13 dual linguists.

The MFL department is also considering alternative accreditation at key stage 4, in particular the Edexcel pilot GCSE in Applied French, which they hope to take part in next year. They feel that this would not only be something different, but would also complement other vocational courses offered in the school.

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Page updated: 12 June 2008
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