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Case study 20: Stretching gifted linguists

This case study shows how a school aims to stretch its gifted linguists from year 8 onwards.

mixed comprehensive school for 11 to 16-year-olds, which shares a community partnership as a language college with its local sixth-form college

giving gifted linguists the opportunity to take an early GCSE in a modern foreign language

developing ICT links with French schools

some students with three GCSEs in modern foreign languages by the end of key stage 4

useful links with French schools

Background

The school is a mixed 11 to 16 comprehensive school in north-west England. It shares a community partnership as a language college with its local sixth-form college and a few staff teach in both institutions. The local university is also involved in language college management board meetings.

The school has a mixed-ability intake and has high expectations for its linguists. Students take French as a first modern foreign language.

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Implementation

Thirty gifted linguists a year are now being given the opportunity to study three modern foreign languages in years 8 and 9. Having already started French, they are given the choice of German or Japanese for their second language, and then have the option to take up Spanish in a twilight session. The aim is to prepare the students to take a GCSE in at least one of the languages at the end of year 9.

The school has a new specialist language suite, with state-of-the-art video conferencing facilities (called 'Picture Tel'). E-links and video-links are available for students of all abilities, but the school starts by giving gifted and talented students the chance to take part in 'real-time' lessons in a French classroom, without even leaving their desks! The students regularly work with two link schools in France and communicate with French e-friends personally and as part of their learning. Both English and French students use each other as a language resource, coaching each other in their respective languages.

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Impact

The school is monitoring closely the progress of the students who study three modern foreign languages during years 8 and 9. The hope is that, by the end of key stage 4, they will have three language GCSEs with high grades.

The electronic link-up with French schools is proving so successful that the school is moving towards using these links as an integral part of teaching and learning. Spin-offs from the developing partnerships have included:

• exchange visits by students and teachers (a student from Nantes spent three months working on an HND in Systems Management at the school);
• work experience in France for some year 10 students (five have gone to Nantes for two weeks' work experience).

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