NEWS FOCUS
www.sec-ed.com
SecEd: On Your Side
Should languages
be compulsory?
IT IS little surprise that fewer
schools are meeting the
Pete
government’s aspirations for
Henshaw
language teaching.
Editor
The latest Language Trends
SecEd
survey from the National
Centre for Languages (CILT) shows that the number of
schools where more than 50 per cent of pupils study a
language in year 10 has fallen from 45 to 40 per cent in the
past year.
Languages and global citizenship is one of SecEd’s core
Diploma debate: Tharema
themes, but I am reluctant to criticise schools in light of the
Kalam from Clapton Girls
School in Hackney, plays the
latest statistics.
role of a senior police officer
To be quite honest, I sit unashamedly on the fence when as she debates with 14 to 19
it comes to the government decision to end the compulsion
minister, Iain Wright
of languages at GCSE back in 2004.
I can see the argument that to truly learn and embrace
languages you have to love the subject, that instilling this
love of languages at an earlier age in primary school is the
right strategy to take, and that it is all about good teaching
and engagement – showing students just what a language Students get a taste
could do for them and their careers down the line. Taking a
language when you don’t want to is not conducive to this.
However, I can also very clearly see the point that it
appears entirely backward in this day and age that a country
such as ours should not consider it vital for all students
to study languages up until 16 and possibly beyond – no
of the real world
matter what level of achievement they reach. In our modern
world, with business and community spanning the globe, HENDON POLICE College, a vast
part of the local head of police,
how can we not be learning one, two or more languages
area in north London encompassing
Getting hands-on experience
retorted: “You’re a teenager. You
during our schooling?
an array of 1960s architecture and get free public transport. Why not
surrounded by intimidating wire
of life in the workplace is a key go and do some sightseeing?”
The cynic in me fears that languages got the chop at
fencing, is not the most welcoming Helen McNulty, 14 to 19 strategy
GCSE as government knew that this would see a boost in of places.
part of studying for a 14 to 19
co-ordinator at Hackney’s Learning
league table results and the number of students getting the
Between 1,500 and 2,000
Diploma. Chris Parr visited the
Trust, which runs all the education
magical five A* to C GCSE benchmark – and as we know,
police recruits pass through the services for the London borough,
any government likes to see statistics on the rise.
college each year to undertake an
Metropolitan Police training centre in London
said: “Days like this are a really
18-week training course. To put integral part of the Diploma course,
And this is really the point – league tables. Once again,
them through their paces, the centre to observe a group of students doing just that particularly as all students have to
a crucial area of education has been and is still being driven contains several football pitches, a show evidence of how they have
by the invidious, divisive and contradictory league tables.
fully operational street system, and engaged with employers.
With compulsion at GCSE a thing of the past, we
a mock courtroom. opportunity to find out about a exercise would help the students to “Had this been a BTEC course
are now seeing schools perhaps steering those D grade
Last week, Iain Wright, the whole range of jobs and careers. get more involved in their own local being taken by a less creative
minister responsible for 14 to 19 “I was fortunate enough to be communities. teacher, then there is a chance that
language students towards other subjects.
education, accompanied students involved in a similar event we He continued: “One of the key today would never have happened,
Students themselves recognise the importance of five from schools across London as they held in 2008, and the kids that parts of the Diplomas is giving and the topics we’ve covered here
A* to Cs and so perhaps are afraid to opt for that French
paid a visit to the college as part of put the effort in got so much out students skills they can take into the would have been covered as a text
or Spanish GCSE because they know they find it hard
their studies towards the Diploma of it.” real world, and this exercise will book exercise.”
in society, health and development. Mr Wright took part in a have given them an impression of Chris Wise, who is the line leader
and might only achieve a D, which they have been told
The youngsters were given workshop simulating a council what council meetings can be like for society, health and development
is worthless (what a crime, to tell a student that a D in
the opportunity to take part in six meeting to help improve conditions in real life. at the Learning Trust, added: “Days
languages – or any subject for that matter – is worthless). seminars, which covered: at a local playground, which had “In my constituency about six like this are what the Diploma is
Some of the language education taking place in our
• Staying safe on the street and the become rundown after being used years ago, the meeting we role- all about. Part of this particular
schools is truly amazing – teachers are working hard to
internet. by gangs and drug users. played today was real-life. There Diploma covers the justice sector,
• How a courtroom works. The youngsters were given a was a problem with the police not and today’s event will teach the
inspire students and engage them with the importance of
• Solving the problem of range of roles to play, from the chief talking with local residents, and students about the different aspects
language learning. But I cannot help but despair as league
vandalism. of police to the local MP, and the the residents complained that they of policing.
tables drive away potentially skilled language speakers at
• How police cars are used. discussions tackled issues including never saw police on the streets.” “It has been a challenge in
an early age when they have little idea of the heights they
• Ways to reduce crime and the role of the police and the lack In one of the workshop’s more Hackney to move students between
might achieve.
disorder. of activities for young people to get light-hearted exchanges, Mr Wright sites, so we have made sure that
• How Safer Neighbourhood involved in. – in character – explained that as a all schools in the borough come
I remember I had to study a language. I didn’t want
Teams help cut crime. Entering into the spirit of the teenager, he had nowhere else to go, together to attend these kind of
to. Given the choice, I would have dropped them all and Sergeant Louise McCarron, day, the minister played the part of and so he had to “hang out in the visits.” SecEd
taken more English or music. However, I had to choose a
who helped to organise the day, a stroppy teenager who was sick playground”.
language. I chose German. Was predicted a D. Struggled
explained: “All of the police staff of being stopped and searched by Tharema Kalam, a student at
Further information
for two years. Hated it almost. But I got a B! Not earth-
who help us to run the day do the police. Clapton Girls’ Technology College Hackney Learning Trust: www.
so voluntarily, and it is a fantastic He told SecEd he hoped the in Hackney, who was playing the learningtrust.co.uk
shattering. But to me, it still remains one of my greatest
achievements.
Years down the line and I am now learning French and
IN RESPONSE…
I love it. I’m not fluent – nowhere near in either language
– but I love learning and when I get the chance to speak,
Last week, SecEd’s front Gary Brace, chief executive of that the key ingredient in great emphasise the importance of
the buzz is palpable. I now actually feel sad that I did not
page covered the education the General Teaching Council teaching is not just top academic teachers in securing the highest
embrace both languages at GCSE or even A level. world’s reaction to the for Wales: scores – we need to ensure standards of education for all,
So maybe I am starting to climb down from my fence.
Conservative Party’s draft “Subject knowledge is not the ‘be teachers in UK schools are highly but what he fails to acknowledge
Perhaps, with students now taking languages at primary
education manifesto (Teachers all and end all’ of being a good motivated, have high expectations is that they are striving to deliver
react angrily to Cameron’s teacher – as any parent knows. for their pupils, and are highly that day-in, day-out, and have
level, if we can scrap the league tables and return to
manifesto, SecEd 236, A good teacher is one who has trained to be experts in teaching had significant success.”
compulsion of study at GCSE, we might make a dent in
Thursday, January 21). the skills, commitment and ability practice and in their subjects.
our country’s reputation for ignorance when it comes to
Among the headline Tory to motivate, communicate and We therefore support a mixed David Laws, Liberal
language education. Yes, the students might not like it, but
policies was a pledge to deny inspire our children and young economy in teacher training Democrat education
who’s to say that they, like me, won’t find that in 10 years’
state funding for teacher people. You can know all there is which provides all those who spokesman:
training to graduates achieving to know about your subject, but possess the right attributes with “We need to get better qualified
time they are thankful that they took languages and can see
less than a 2:2 in their degree. if you can’t communicate this to the opportunity and support to people into teaching, but the
why they are essential to life in the 21st century. SecEd SecEd received such a large others, you won’t get very far as a enter the classroom and make Tories can’t be trusted to do this.
amount of reaction, that we teacher.” maximum impact on learning.” Their plans to slash
• Pete Henshaw is the editor of SecEd and Delivering
were unable to publish it all education spending will mean
Diplomas. Email him on editor@sec-ed.co.uk or visit
last week. Here, we look at James Westhead, director of Chris Keates, general secretary that schools will simply not have
some of the views that we were external relations at Teach First: of the NASUWT: the cash to pay good teachers
www.sec-ed.com or www.deliveringdiplomas.com
unable to fit in. “It is important to remember “David Cameron is right to more.”
6 SecEd • January 28 2010
06-NEWSFOCUS.indd 6 25/1/10 10:57:59
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16