Programme Overview
A national dissemination and development programme for Key Stage 3 Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) was finalised in the summer 2006 and was launched in the nine regions of England in January 2007. Phase 1 of the programme was successfully completed in April 2008 and Phase 2 is now underway. The programme continues to build on progress already made in implementing the Key Stage 3 Framework of Objectives for MFL and forms part of the National Languages Strategy, which aims to broaden and enrich the opportunities for language learning at school and beyond. |
It is an exciting and extensive offer, involving an innovative partnership between the DCSF, the National Strategy, CILT, the National Centre for Languages, the Comenius network, local authorities and schools. Links are also being developed with QCA in preparation for the revised national curriculum (September 2008).
Its aims are to:
- increase the quality and consistency in MFL teaching and learning
- strengthen transfer and transition from KS2 to KS3
- secure the basis for the post-14 languages entitlement and so raise standards in MFL.
The programme comprises:
- access for all MFL departments to training and support, using a suite of 15 National Strategy e-learning modules
- specialist coaching and co-coaching to embed, sustain and extend the impact of the programme and develop local leadership
- opportunities to establish local networks to support the exchange and development of good MFL practice
CILT and the Comenius network recruited Regional Trainers for each of the nine regions. The following diagram depicts how the partnership between CILT, the Comenius Centres and National Strategies support these networks and how the lead school in turn supports other schools.
Lead MFL Professionals and the Regional Trainers have now established 355 Strategic Learning Networks (SLNs) in England. Each SLN is made up of between 4 and 15 schools and has a Lead School. Each SLN completed an evaluation of Phase 1 in April 2008. Phase 2 is now underway and SLNs finalised their action plans at the end of June, showing how the schools will work together to achieve the new objectives they have set themselves, within the overall aim of the programme to increase quality and consistency of teaching and learning in Key Stage 3. SLNs will receive funding for the period September 2008 - March 2009. There are now 2,490 schools involved, about 75% of secondary schools in England.
The number of SLNs per region is illustrated on the diagram below. Click on a region to find out the names of the Lead Schools. A full list of the Lead Schools is available to download (excel, 72KB).
