KING EDWARD VII SCHOOL AND LANGUAGE COLLEGE

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KING EDWARD VII SCHOOL AND LANGUAGE COLLEGE

• PUTTING SPANISH FIRST

Aspects of Latin America October 11th 2008
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Context

• 11-18 co-educational comprehensive school in
  Sheffield
• 1675 on roll and oversubscribed
• 40 primary feeder schools
• 515 in Sixth Form, including 280 post-16 incomers
• Socially, culturally, ethnically most diverse
  school in Sheffield
• 25 mother tongues 17 EAL, 25-30 ethnic
  minority communities
• Training School since 2000
• Specialist Language College since 1998

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Modern Foreign Languages at King Edward VII
School

• Strong MFL tradition, specialist staff
• First Specialist Language College in South
  Yorkshire
• French historically first Modern Foreign Language
• French, German, Spanish, Urdu, Japanese, Italian,
  Chinese
• Extensive international links
• Partnerships with University of Sheffield and
  Sheffield Hallam University
• Strong links to ALL (Association for Language
  Learning)
• Involved with LEA in DfES Primary Pathfinder
  programme
• Leading in the development of vocational (NVQ)
  courses

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MFL until 2004

• Y7-Y9 French for all as first language
• Y8 German or Spanish added as 2nd language until
  end Y9
• Y8 Japanese available to all outside normal
  curriculum time
• Y10/11 minimum of one Foreign Language
  compulsory
• Y10 Italian fast-track to GCSE in 1 year
  available outside normal curriculum time
• Urdu available as GCSE language choice
• Post-16 French, German, Spanish, Urdu, Italian,
  Japanese

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Putting Spanish First 2004-2005

• Starting Points
• Steady decline in popularity of German in Y8 and
  steady increase in popularity of Spanish over
  last decade
• Why should French come first?
• Dialogue with Business and Commerce if one
  could begin all over again, which language would
  one start with?

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Putting Spanish First Rationale

• Positive image of Spain and things Spanish in
  the popular mind
• Accessibility of Spain, its popularity and
  familiarity
• Emergence of Spain as a major European partner
• The importance of the Spanish-speaking world,
  including USA
• Future thinking Spanish as a world language
  globalisation of Business and Commerce
• Linguistic accessibility meeting the needs of
  the whole school and planning for success,
  including employment opportunities

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Putting Spanish First Issues

• Governors reactions
• Parental opinion
• Resourcing a change
• - teachers
• - materials
• - new partnerships
• Student reaction
• Sustainability

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Putting Spanish FirstProcess (i)

• Consultation paper to Leadership Team to secure
  agreement in principle
• Agreement with Modern Languages Faculty to verify
  teacher support
• Discussion with Governors Curriculum and
  Staffing Committee and then with Finance
  Committee to ensure agreement and commitment
• Detailed planning of costs, time-scales and
  implications (Autumn 2003/early Spring 2004)

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Putting Spanish FirstProcess (ii)

• Agreement to start with Y7 classes in Sept 2004
• Notification of parents of Y6 children in primary
  schools about change to published prospectus and
  invitation to comment ( Spring 2004)
• Curriculum Development and detailed subject
  planning (Summer 2004)
• Liaison with Consejería de Educación about new
  partners in Spain
• Launch to Y7s and Parents September 2004

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Putting Spanish FirstOutcomes 4 years on (2008)

• Positive parental reaction
• Strong positive student reaction
• Approx 20 improvement in attainment at GCSE
  Spanish
• Improved participation rate in German

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Putting Spanish FirstOutcomes (ii)

• New partnerships established (with Mañuel de
  Falla School, Madrid Josep Obrer School in
  Palma, Mallorca)
• Crosscurricular links to several subject areas
  (Comenius Project, SAM Utd, History, Art )
• Spanish most popular language in evening class
  programme
• Spanish firmly established in feeder primary
  schools

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Putting Spanish FirstCurrent priorities

• Secure progression from Spanish in primary
  schools
• Year 7 () Programme of Study based on Latin
  America culture, cross-curricular links
• Establish partnerships with schools in Mexico,
  Chile and Guatemala
• Establish work-experience placements in Spain for
  senior students on a reciprocal basis

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Questions ?

• Comments ?

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QUIZ

• Why Spanish?

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A W LANGUAGE
WORLD
A U.. LANGUAGE
USEFUL
AN A LANGUAGE
ATTRACTIVE
A LANGUAGE FOR E. AND
F
EDUCATION
FUN
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.. HAS FEATURES WHICH MAKE IT EASY TO
ASSIMILATE IN THE EARLY STAGES
IT HAS A VERY SIMPLE SOUND SYSTEM, WITH JUST
. VOWEL SOUNDS.
FIVE
17

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IS SPOKEN BY NEARLY ..... OF THE
U.S. POPULATION, ESPECIALLY IN
C , F
, LARGE AREAS OF THE SOUTHWEST,
N.. AND OTHER LARGE
CITIES, SUCH AS . .
CALIFORNIA
FLORIDA
NEW YORK
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LOS ANGELES
SAN DIEGO
SAN JOSÉ
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There are more than ..... million
native speakers of Spanish throughout the
world - being the . most
spoken language andthe most
important one in international communication.
300
fourth
second
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Each of the Spanish speaking
countries has many very valuable contributions to
make in the fields of commerce, industry, and
culture. To ensure success in the Spanish
speaking market firms will need to promote their
products in Spanish.
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Being able to Speak Spanish opens up a whole new
dimension of holiday opportunities. Nearly
million British people visit Spain every year.
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Spain is the most visited country on Earth!
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At less than . hours flying time away
and with so many links and exchange programmes it
is easy to find a chance to practise your Spanish.
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