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• Qualifications Strategy for 14-19 year olds published
  Ed Balls today published proposals to simplify the qualifications system so that all courses are well understood and valued, and offer young people a clear route into further study or directly into skilled employment. The proposals form part of a Qualifications Strategy for 14-19 year olds published for consultation today which sets out plans to incorporate the very best of existing qualifications into four key national qualification structures: Diplomas; GCSEs and A-levels; Apprenticeships; and a Foundation Learning Tier of courses that act as a route into higher level qualifications. The consultation runs until 23 June '08.
  Read the DCSF press release | Download the Qualifications Strategy
• Chair of the Development Partnership for the Diploma in Languages announced
  Dr Terry Lamb, Senior Lecturer in Education, University of Sheffield; governor of CILT, the National Centre for Languages, is the newly announced Chair of the Diploma Development Partnership for the new Languages Diploma.
  Read the DCSF press release | QCA Diploma info | Diplomas and languages
• Ofsted's report published - Every language matters
  The report evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of initial teacher training in languages other than French, German, Irish, Spanish and Welsh. The report has been produced at a time when numbers of pupils taking languages at GCSE level are falling but schools are being encouraged to take on a wider range of world languages. It describes good practice in training and teaching. (21/02/08)
• Further Education Colleges and A Levels
  The Learning and Skills Council has issued a circular, Identifying and Managing Underperformance, to further education colleges, announcing that next year it is raising the bar from a current 50% pass rate to 75% for A levels. (14/01/08)
  
• How including languages is helping to create an innovative Diploma curriculum - CILT's monthly FE News article.
  Awareness of languages in the Diplomas is growing and institutions are now beginning to think about how they might use this new development to expand languages within the curriculum. Read the full article to find out how the College of North East London is one of the institutions blazing a trail in terms of developing languages for the new Diplomas. (20/02/08)
  
• CILT statement on changes to GCSE languages assessment
  Recent press reports have created a perception that proposed changes to the assessment arrangements for GCSE foreign languages will lead to a lowering of standards. This is unfortunate, as above all we need to hold on to the value that language learning has for learners, employers and for academic study.
  Read the DCSF press release | Download the QCA report (pdf, 97KB)
• Two of the Routes into Languages research reports are now available to download:
  1. Community Languages in Higher Education
  2. Languages and Enterprise
• The new secondary curriculum
  The new secondary curriculum comes into force in Year 7 from September 2008. ALL is working with CfBT to provide support for language teachers, including a website with support materials and examples of good practice.
• Enquiry-based learning in languages
  A one-day conference at the University of Manchester, Friday 26th September 2008
  The School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures (SLLC) at the University of Manchester, in partnership with LLAS Subject Centre, will host a day long conference on Enquiry-Based Learning (EBL). Publication of the conference papers and case-studies will follow as part of the overall aim to disseminate evidence of best practice through this mode of learning. Proposal deadline: 31st May 2008. If you would like to submit a proposal, it should include the title of the paper and should be of a maximum of 200 words. Papers will be 20 minutes with 10 minutes for discussion. The working language of the conference will be English. Please send your proposal to Catherine Franc: c.franc@manchester.ac.uk
  Area of studies proposed:
• The development of professional and transferable skills through EBL
• Independent learning, the autonomy of the learner
• The role of the facilitator/ language tutor
• The place of EBL in the larger curriculum
• Assessment issues, including the process and product debate
• Inter-disciplinarity
• More collaboration between schools
  Schools Minister, Andrew Adonis, launched a prospectus this week to encourage the best performing schools and colleges to help weaker schools. Best performing schools are encouraged to get involved in academies and trusts and share their 'formula for success'. The Government is providing up to £300K to assist schools to link up and sponsor weaker schools. Read the DCSF press release (15/01/08)
• Secondary Languages Direct
  Have you registered to receive CILT's secondary ezine? Once a term we publish an email which contains the latest news in the sector, links to good practice examples, information and advice. You could be featured in future ezines, details of how to submit a proposal are included in each issue. View the archive or register to receive the next issue.
• Consultation: Confidence in Standards: Regulating and developing qualifications and assessment
  On 26 September, Ed Balls announced that the Government would establish an independent regulator of qualifications and tests in England. “Confidence in Standards: Regulating and developing qualifications and assessment” sets out the detail of these proposals.
  The Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator will be the guardian of standards across the tests and qualifications systems, building on the regulatory work of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. The QCA will develop into a development agency for curriculum, assessment and qualifications.
  Consultation deadline: 10 March 2008
• Languages in higher education conference: Transitions and connections
  8th and 9th July, University of York
  Don't miss out on an opportunity to contribute to the major languages conference for UK Higher Education. Submit your own proposal. Conference themes include working across sectors, the curriculum, the language learning environment and languages and employment. Deadline for proposals for papers is 31st January. The conference will be of interest to all sectors, not just HE.
• Are you using and sharing digital resources for learning and teaching?
  Becta and the National Education Network (NEN) invite schools in England to submit proposals for funded projects to exploit online digital resources found external to their organisation to create more engaging, innovative and interactive materials for teaching and learning. These materials will then be made available nationally for sharing with other teachers. Up to £25,000 is available per project and it is expected that 30-50 projects will be funded across the country. Collaborative bids (which may include primary schools) will be welcomed. Projects last from April to December 2008. Bids are required by Friday 22 February 2008. Download the NEN article for more information (pdf, 239KB).
• Flying High! CILT's annual conference for Specialist Language Colleges has a 14 to 19 focus this year. It's jointly run with the SSAT and is taking place on Thursday 7 February 2008, 09.00 – 16.00, in Loughborough. The theme is ‘14 to 19 regenerating the curriculum’ and will focus on innovative practice at key stages 4 and 5. The cost is £185 per delegate. All language teachers can attend, not just SLC teachers.
• The Times Stephen Spender Prize for poetry in translation
  Translate a poem from any language, classical or modern, into English. Three
  categories: open, 18-and-under and 14-and-under. Cash prizes. All winning entries published in a booklet. Last posting date for entries Friday 23 May 2008.
  For details and entry forms go to the Stephen Spender website. To read last year's winning entries, visit the website or email info@stephenspender.org for a free copy of the booklet.
• Berlin Aktuell course: funding deadline approaching
  The funding deadline is approaching for the Berlin Aktuell course for teachers and lecturers teaching German to the 14–19 age group and adults learners. The course, which takes place from 10-18 April 2008 at the Goethe Institut in Berlin, offers a lively mix of language classes, discussions and an extensive cultural and recreational programme to immerse teachers in the German lifestyle.
  The deadline for funding applications is 31 January.
• Languages Work activity guide is a new resource providing advice, information and support for anyone wanting to inspire students to think about careers in languages. It is priced at £12.
  Schools using assemblies, careers days, options evenings and class time to demonstrate the benefits of continued language learning report that these events are successful in increasing take-up of languages in KS4 and beyond.
  CILT is currently offering a special 15% discount on all its titles until 31 January.
• European Award for Languages 2008: Have you applied yet?
  Time is running out to nominate an outstanding language initiative to receive a European Award for Languages. The deadline for this year’s Awards is 1 February. The most innovative language initiatives will receive one of the prestigious awards, which recognise creativity in improving the quality of language teaching, and the ability to motivate students and maximise available resources. Also read the CILT article in FE news (17/01/08).
• French Language Week Competition is a brand-new opportunity to provide pupils from all primary and secondary schools in England with an original and exciting approach to learning French. It aims to help teachers get their pupils talking, writing and working in French, by encouraging them to produce a creative competition entry based on one or several of 10 chosen words, and win a 2-day trip to Paris! The competition is a joint British Council /French Embassy initiative supported by the DCSF, Eurostar and the French Institute. The competition will open on January 14th and close on 29 February.
• The Business Language Champion Awards - CILT's monthly FE News article.
  CILT's Director, Isabella Moore, describes her pleasure in presenting the Award for Business Language Champion Partnership of the Year 2006-7 to Camira Fabrics at the National Education Business Partnership Network annual conference earlier this month.
  Find out more about the Business Language Champions programme.
• The Prospect/Franco-British Council Short Story Prize
  The Franco-British Council and Prospect magazine announce a short story prize with the support of novelists Julian Barnes and Ian Rankin, both of whom are on the jury. Sixth formers and undergraduates are invited to write a short story inspired by France and/or the French.
  The best stories will be published in an anthology, and the very top prize winners will see their work will appear in Prospect as well as receiving trips to France and cash prizes. Stories should be no longer than 1000 words, should be written in English and signed off by a teacher or course tutor and must arrive by 1st April 2008.
  Further information on the prize and application forms can be obtained from the Franco-British Council website.
• £20,000 available for 14 to 19 projects
  The Mary Glasgow Language Trust, in association with the Nuffield Foundation and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, is offering prizes for successful curriculum innovation in languages in the 14 –19 sector. In 2008, the Mary Glasgow Trust will award up to four prizes of £5,000 each to projects which are leading to a higher take-up of language learning post-14 and which could serve as inspiration for other schools and colleges.
  In 2007 the first of these prizes was awarded to one of CILT's 14 to 19 Learning Networks, Sheffield LEA's Vocational International Project (VIPS). For further details and to receive an application form contact Ann King, Hon Secretary, The Mary Glasgow Language Trust on ann@annking.co.uk (application deadline: 15 February 2008). Download a flyer (rtf, 1.2MB) from the Mary Glasgow Language Trust about the prizes.
• Yorkshire fabric company named top Business Language Champion
  Camira Fabrics with King James' High School in Huddersfield have been named Business Language Champion Partnership of the Year 2006-2007. The prize, awarded for inspiring students and demonstrating the real life relevance of language skills, was announced at the National Education Business Partnership Network annual conference in London on Monday 3 December.
  Read the CILT press release (pdf, 137KB)
• Is this the end of the decline for languages? - CILT's monthly FE News article. Findings from CILT’s annual survey of secondary schools, carried out this autumn in conjunction with the Association for Language Learning and the Independent Schools’ Modern Language Association, show that the rapid decline in pupil numbers studying languages in Key Stage 4 may at last be stabilising. (12/11/07)
• Schools reluctant to set targets to increase language take up
  Only 17% of secondary schools have so far acted on the Government’s requirement to set a benchmark for participation in language learning after fourteen. Over half of secondary schools now have fewer than 50% of pupils continuing with a language in Key Stage 4, and those with the lowest take-up are the most reluctant to set targets to improve.
  CILT press release (pdf, 98KB) | Final Language Trends report (pdf, 120KB) | Full statistical report (pdf, 109KB)
• Enterprise Week - 12-18 November 2007 -Enterprise Week is a UK-wide week of activities inspiring young people to be enterprising - to make their ideas happen.
• Making a reality of the new languages entitlement - the DCSF has produced a briefing pack called 'Languages in Key Stage 4 – 10 Questions and Answers for school leaders'. It includes a DVD and can be ordered for free from Prolog, ref: DCSF 00669-2007 with ref.no. 00669-2007CDO-EN (for the disk). Telephone 0845 60 222 60. You can read the 10 questions and answers online (doc, 53KB).
  
• CILT's project Languages Work has produced four new free factsheets in order to raise awareness of the true value of languages in the workplace and beyond. The new titles are:
  1. Building skills: Languages for the built environment
  2. Engineering success: Languages for engineering
  3. Making sense: A career in translation or interpreting
  4. Use it or lose it: any language skill is an asset for life
  Visit the Languages Work factsheets page to download the factsheets as pdfs. You can also order hard copies from the online shop for free.
• Enter the LAFTAs competition for your chance to win a trip to Spain and Germany or a £1500 video camera. Make a two-minute video clip on why 'languages work'. The competition is open to 13 to 21 year olds. Winners and runners up will be invited to a celebrity award ceremony - the LAFTAs - in 2008. The closing date for entries is 31 March 2008.
• The DCSF announces an additional diploma in languages. From 2011 there will be three additional diplomas in science, languages and the humanities in order to increase the options for 14 to 19 year olds. It was also confirmed that an A-Level review scheduled for 2008 will now be postponed and that a first review of 14 to 19 qualifications will instead take place in 2013. (23/10/07)
  CILT press release (pdf, 21KB)| DCSF news item | Languages in the diplomas
• Languages mean business - CILT's monthly FE News article. The significance on the FE sector of a debate in Brussels on 21 September, which for the first time at European level brought together over 300 employers, public agents and members of the education sector from across the European Union. (08/10/07)
• 'Don't give up languages', employers urge teenagers (pdf, 155KB)
  CILT’s Employers’ Advisory Group, the only national forum for languages in the workplace, met today, the European Day of Languages, and issued the following statement:
  Many more teenagers should choose a language at GCSE than are currently doing so. We want them to be ambitious and successful in the competitive global environment in which we all operate – and to enjoy life to the full.  We want teenagers to understand that language skills make them more employable. We want more young Britons to have the confidence to live or work abroad for part of their careers. We want them to be able to play their part in solving global challenges and to gain vital international experience to bring back to our businesses and public services. (26/09/07)
• £5000 Curriculum Prize for Sheffield’s language teaching (doc, 29 KB). Sheffield LEA's Vocational International Project (VIPS) has won the Mary Glasgow Language Trust's 14 to 19 Curriculum Prize.
  VIPS 14 to 19 Learning Network |  Mary Glasgow contribution to EAL in 2006
• GCSE languages - are employers really to blame? - CILT's monthly FE News article. Do UK employers really undervalue language skills? (09/9/07)
• Languages revival no quick fix (pdf, 160 KB) - CILT's response to the GCSE results. (23/8/07)
• CILT response to A level results for languages: further action is needed to increase the uptake in languages. (16/8/07)
• Including languages in the Diplomas is a positive step - CILT's monthly FE News article. What is the place of languages in the Diplomas, the new qualifications for 14 to 19-year olds? (11/7/07)
  Languages in the Diplomas | Diploma Gateway results | Timetable for delivery
• The consultation on new GCSE criteria
  New GCSE qualification and subject criteria are now available in draft form and out to public consultation until 14th September.
  On-line survey for consultation | Draft GCSE qualification criteria | MFL draft criteria
  Download the current MFL GCSE criteria (pdf 423 KB)