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The BA Flag Award at The Kingsway School, Cheadle
Context
Kingsway is a mixed comprehensive of 1,500 students and 120 staff covering 2 sites in a suburb of Stockport, specialising in maths and ICT. Languages are optional in KS4 and there are 8 French classes, 2 German classes and 1 Spanish class in KS4.
Key objectives
- To raise the status of languages in the school.
- To encourage students to see the value of languages in the workplace.
- To offer the BA Flag award to students in Year 10 in July.
How the programme is organised
An MFL event was organised for year 9 before students chose their options. Also local speakers were invited to talk about how they use their languages at work. In Y10 the students do the BA award in July as part of their oral exam.
The BA flag award consists of 4 parts — conversation, reading, role play and listening. It is assessed is through fluency, vocabulary range, accuracy, pronunciation and comprehension.
The school has produced booklets with sample questions that the students may be asked as well as useful phrases. Foreign Language Assistants and teachers prepare the students thoroughly during the final term.
A way to raise the status of the award is to display work, make mention of it in lessons and presentations in assembly. The school has also published on the school web site a list of those who obtained the award, with a congratulatory note from management.
Evidence of success
Students have said that doing the award helped their confidence in preparation for the GCSE oral and they were able to quote it as one of their achievements for their college interviews in Y11.
Comments from staff at the school
'It has given a further incentive to speak
a language well, not just to pass a GCSE exam.' Member of the department.
Comments from students
'I'm really proud of my badge ... it's different and it makes me feel special!'
Future developments
All staff will be trained and all students will take the test, with the weakest achieving at least a certificate of achievement.
Author: Kingsway School, Cheadle
