Description

St Mary’s is a three form entry primary school, across three sites. We still have three year groups of two form entry in Y3, 5 & 6. French is taught from Y3 upwards, with elements introduced in Y2, rather than formal teaching. The curriculum is led by a MFL co-ordinator who is also a full time teacher (Y5 at the moment). All year groups that are taught French follow the Catherine Cheater scheme. In Y3 the class teachers teach their own classes through this scheme and guidance from the MFL co-ordinator. Y4 are taught by Orleans secondary school, which is next door to the school. They teach 30 minutes of French to each Y4 class a week. Y5 are taught by the MFL coordinator who is fluent in French. Y6 are taught by one of the Y6 class teachers, who is also a fluent French speaker.

 Sustainability

This model is sustainable with a specialist MFL coordinator in place and the link with Orleans secondary school. In the past, the coordinator has also taught another year group (Y6) if it was deemed to have a positive effect on the children’s education i.e. the Y6 teachers were not confident. This would happen through swapping classes. The MFL coordinator is needed to oversee development with the secondary school and advise and lead other colleagues. Due to the school being large, there are other French speakers in other year groups, who could assist should the need arise.

 Cost

The Orleans agreement is free and all the others are class teachers.

 Resources

The coordinator is an experienced teacher, who is aware of a large variety of resources and can advise non specialists. The Catherine Cheater scheme is used throughout. Some resources are also used from LGfL.

 Progression and consistency

The MFL coordinator has overall responsibility for all year groups-particularly the ones he is not teaching and the important liaison with the secondary school. At present, it is a great advantage to have another fluent French speaker as a Y6 class teacher. Whole school INSETs have taken place, so that all teachers have experience of the methods taught and goals are uniform.

 Achievement

The children’s progress and achievement is monitored against the KS2 framework and the school is beginning to embed the Lingua Badge Award.

 Challenges

The challenge with this model is to have a specialist MFL class teacher. The continued link with Orleans is also very important. Class teachers stay in the lesson with the teacher from Orleans so they have experience, should the current model change. Y3 teachers are supported by the MFL coordinator; teachers with little confidence in French would have to be more closely monitored.