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Involving Heads of Department in the SLN launch meeting
October 2007
Lead Teachers and Lead Schools
Paula Banks and Wendy Hale - Cowley Language College, St. Helens, Merseyside
Main objectives of the network
- To revisit the KS3 framework with particular focus on identifying objectives to improve pupil motivation
- To share strategies for improving pupil motivation in the MFL curriculum by exploring effective use of ICT in the classroom
How many schools are involved in the network?
10 schools (all the secondary schools in St. Helens)
Description of how the network was launched:
Cowley Language College was nominated as the Lead School for the SLN as part of its role as Language College. After consultation with the MFL curriculum leaders from each of the network schools, it was decided that the focus of the network would be pupil motivation and engagement, as this tied in with individual departmental training needs of many of the network schools. Specific objectives were then discussed and agreed. Membership of the SLN was aimed at teachers in departments who were eager to develop and share their practice – delegates are in most cases not the HOD. The SLN network runs alongside the well established Curriculum Support Group (CSG) for HODs with four twilight meetings for each group over the year. The SLN is well supported by the local authority advisor, Trish Smith.
The SLN was launched to both delegates and HODs in July 2007 by the Lead Professional, Lead Teacher and a guest speaker, Barry Smith. The launch meeting was hosted by the local authority in an annual half day training session for all schools. In most cases the SLN delegates are not the HOD so we felt it was important that the HODs should be included in the launch meeting to keep them informed. At this meeting, delegates were able to discuss issues faced in the MFL classroom relating to pupil engagement and get valuable ideas from the guest speaker, who highlighted the need for MFL teachers to adopt a more creative approach in both the planning and delivery stages.
Four further twilight meetings are scheduled in the 2007-8 academic year, the first of which took place at the end of September. Sessions are led by the Lead Teacher and the Lead Professional, but it is intended that delegates will also contribute by sharing both experiences and ideas as new material is trialled. This will take place not only during the meetings but also via the SLN blog. It is also intended that use of the blog will ease communication between meetings.
At the first meeting, delegates were given examples of ‘creative’ and ‘motivational’ materials and a demonstration of the online nuggets. Delegates have now been asked to develop similar tasks based on the notions discussed and evaluate by trialling in class. This will be discussed and experiences shared at the second meeting. The third meeting will focus on investigating software and strategies for using ICT in the classroom. In the fourth meeting, we hope to discuss and evaluate progress made on the group’s objectives and produce a portfolio of exemplar materials and techniques for use by all departments in the network.
Any advice you may give to others looking to set up a network:
- To ensure that the Lead Teacher and Lead Professional have time to prepare for meetings and develop resources
- Keep HODs informed of SLN progress
- Good administrative support – in our case via the LA
- Clear pathways of communication
Briefly, what are the future plans of the network?
We hope that the SLN will provide a forum for language teachers in the authority, particularly those who are not curriculum leaders, to develop and share their skills and good practice in MFL teaching and to be able to participate in discussions which will help take their own departments forward as we all respond to current and future MFL curriculum initiatives.
CILT wishes to thank Paula and Wendy for writing this case study.
