Languages at The Elmgreen School
Modern Foreign Languages is a highly valued and popular part of the curriculum at The Elmgreen School. At Key Stage 3 students undertake an in depth study of either French or Spanish, alternating according to their year of entry. Besides exploring the many French and Spanish speaking cultures around the world, students tackle detailed grammar issues and rapidly acquire a wide range of vocabulary. The programme of study for French and Spanish equips students with key language learning skills, enabling them to learn new languages at Key Stage 4 and beyond with confidence and ease.
Over 65% of our Year 9 and 10 cohorts have elected to study a language at Key Stage Four, for which we have developed an engaging programme of study, including opportunities to visit the countries whose languages are being studied. We are delighted to have recently secured a partnership with a school in the north of Paris, with whom we have so far enjoyed brief exchange visits. Students are strongly encouraged to continue language studies at post-16 level, and we are exploring exciting pathways to facilitate this, as the school prepares to open its sixth form in September 2012.
There are numerous opportunities for wider language learning at The Elmgreen School:
- Languages taster weeks where students sample German, Italian, and Mandarin through a short series of lessons.
- After school lessons and clubs in Italian and Mandarin Chinese (free of cost for all ages).
- Introductory courses to Spanish and Mandarin Chinese delivered through the Wednesday afternoon Choice programme for Year 8 students.
The Languages Department also offers careful provision to students with English as an Additional Language. This includes an induction course for new arrivals, ongoing support with literacy development across the curriculum, and early entry GCSEs for bilingual students. We are delighted that twelve students entered for GCSEs in French, German, Italian and Spanish in 2009 and 2010 all gained A or A* grades. The linguistic diversity of our students and staff is one of the celebrated and treasured features of The Elmgreen School.