Subjects

Modern Foreign Languages

The Modern Languages Department is part of Kendrick School, a girls’ Grammar School with specialisms in Maths, Science and Languages within Reading Local Authority. There are three forms of entry in year 7. The department consists of 6 members of staff, of whom 4 are full-time. The work of the languages faculty is currently managed by Mrs J Carr. Our Head of German is Frau Byrne and our Head of French is Mme Elise Grierson Rickford. Staff in the department are tutors or help with a form. Job descriptions are reviewed annually. At this time, specific tasks or rôles are agreed for the year in addition to the generic job descriptions established in the school.

The Curriculum

French and German have equal status in the school. In 2009, we will bring in Spanish as an option (ab initio) in year 12, leading to GCSE in year 13. All girls study French and German in years 8 and 9. They will have started one language in year 7 and the second in year 8. (Two year 7 forms begin with French and one with German. The following year it will be two German and one French, and so on, alternating each year. ) Girls may, of course, take both languages at GCSE and AS/A2 level if they wish. We encourage them to do so and the numbers of dual linguists is healthy at a time when languages are in decline nationally at Key Stage 4 and beyond. The number of girls studying any one language Post 16 tends to vary but an average might be 20 at AS. All girls, with some very rare exceptions in particular special cases, study a language throughout Key Stage 4. Mandarin Chinese is studied as an extra-curricular lesson weekly after school. There are currently two groups of committed students studying this subject.

Time Allocated per year group

Key Stage 3	Year 7	5 * 1hour
	Year 8	4 * 1 hour
	Year 9	4 * 1 hour
Key Stage 4	Year 10	5 * 1 hour
	Year 11	4 * 1hour
Key Stage 5	Year 12	4 * 1hour
	Year 13	4 * 1hour

 

Grouping

Years 7, 8 and 9 are taught in mixed ability groups (up to 32 pupils). In years 10 and 11, setting may take place if there are enough pupils on a line and if it is considered desirable. The dual linguists are sometimes taught together in any case and girls doing two languages are often particularly able. The department has mixed feelings about setting by ability. We often prefer to create groups containing pupils of differing abilities and personalities. In all teaching groups, we differentiate our work where possible in order to stimulate the most able and support those girls who find the language difficult. In year 11, girls are generally entered for all the higher level GCSE papers. On some (rare) occasions it is deemed advisable for one or two girls to sit one or two papers at foundation level.

Results- 2009

French

GCSE: 88% A* or A (100% C+), A2 87% B+ (100% C+)

German

GCSE: 73% A* or A (100% C+), A2 100% A

Foreign Language Assistants (FLAs)

Conversation classes are arranged with the Foreign Language Assistant (FLA) in years 11, 12 and 13. We share our FLAs with the Reading School and Reading Girls’ School. Years 10 and 11 sometimes benefit from time with the FLAs. The classes are compulsory for students in year 12 and 13.

Accommodation

The department is housed in three dedicated classrooms with storage facilities and small rooms for the FLAs. There is a 22-booth, cassette-based language laboratory in a separate area which the sixth form are encouraged to use for their independent study. One of the computer rooms around the school can be booked for use in lessons. The department has TV and DVD facilities and there are interactive whiteboards in the main teaching rooms.

Pupils

The majority of pupils at Kendrick are aged between 11 and 18. Some pupils join the school at various points during Key Stages 3 and 4 (having been tested to enter) and many join us in year 12. They must have a B or above at GCSE in order to be able to study a subject at AS level. Most girls come to us in year 7 with little or no knowledge of German, although there are many who have studied some French. Despite a more coordinated national and local policy for languages in the primary sector, girls come to us with a widely differing experience of French. We therefore do some baseline testing in order to better differentiate our teaching but we essentially start at the beginner's level so no girl need worry if she has no French. Special arrangements can be made in advance for girls who are bilingual. If we are informed on the application form, girls can be placed in a form beginning with the other language in year 7. Bilingual girls may choose to take the GCSE examination a year early at the end of year 10. They will NOT have gone into the option system but will carry on studying independently, with support from school and, very often, from home. Bilingual girls, like the more able, may need differentiated work. Pupils are prepared for Oxbridge if they wish and the department has a good track record of pupils being accepted.

Extra- Curricular Activities

These are seen as very important and the staff in the department are exceedingly generous with their time. We are currently involved with year 9/10 trips with 'homestay' to France and Germany. Years 12/13 are offered a week’s work experience in France and/or Germany. A Christmas market visit to Germany is also a popular event.

Sixth formers may volunteer to help teach languages in local primary schools as part of the school’s outreach work.

Department Members

The staff are highly qualified and very experienced. The atmosphere is warm and supportive and the team is both cohesive and very effective.

• Mrs Jenny Carr, Head of MFL and Assistant Headteacher, teaches French.
• Frau Ulrike Byrne, Head of German, teaches German, also qualified to teach English as a foreign language. Frau Byrne is a native speaker of German.
• Mme Elise Grierson Rickford, Head of French.
• Mrs Janet Forman, full-time teacher of German, also qualified to teach French and teaches RS. Mrs Forman is also Head of Year 9.
• Mrs Ann Male, part-time teacher of German, also qualified to teach French.
• Mme Sylvie Hulley, a part-time teacher of French. Mme Hulley is a native speaker of French.
• Our language assistants are Marion Janiec (French) and Anna Ludwig (German).