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Strategic Learning Networks case studies
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Matching department strengths and weaknesses
October 2007
Lead Teacher and Lead School
Louise Unsworth, Bexley Grammar School, London
Main objectives of the network:
- To improve motivation in KS3 of all pupils
- To increase uptake at KS4 by strengthening the transfer and transition in MFL teaching between KS3 and KS4 by sharing strategies for teaching and learning with the embedded use of the Framework. This is intended to develop students’ skills in areas that will ease the transition from KS3 to KS4 and therefore help schools to provide a secure foundation for the KS4 languages entitlement.
- To prepare for the revised national curriculum and alternative pathways by looking at alternative curricula and the provision of languages within these alternatives and therefore help schools to provide a secure foundation for the KS4 languages entitlement.
How many schools are involved in the network?
Nine.
Description of how the network was launched:
A meeting was set up in April last year to which all heads of MFL were invited by the borough’s strategy manager by letter. Eight schools attended this meeting where the national aims of the SLNs were explained together with a look at the nuggets that had been developed to support these.
All HoDs were asked to do a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis of their department’s strengths and areas for development which they then shared with a partner. After doing this they began to realise that they either had similar issues or where one school had a weakness another had strength in that area and could therefore support them. At the end we had a list of strengths across the borough and areas to develop.
It was then agreed that we should try and meet regularly to work on these areas of development with the support of those schools that had a strength in that area. Colleagues also requested trying to move the meetings around to give an opportunity to see other schools. Colleagues were then asked to go away and think about whether they wanted to sign up a member of their department to the network to attend our monthly meetings and feedback to schools.
Any advice you may give to others looking to set up a network:
Get everyone on board from the start and work out the focus/aims together so that they will all want to take part as it is relevant to their needs.
Briefly, what are the future plans of the network?
We now have a list of areas that we would like to strengthen in MFL teaching across the borough. These have been divided into monthly meetings that we will have together (in a different school every time) whereby those colleagues who have particular strengths in such areas will lead in sharing ideas and resources with colleagues together with using the online nuggets to support this development.
CILT wishes to thank Louise for writing this case study.
