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Introduction
| Overview
| Becoming an LC
| CILT support
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CILT-SLC case study |
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Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Trafford |
Engaging others |
Keeping on Track
The Regional Primary Language Conference at Altrincham Grammar School for Girls
(ELL – LC project) on 26th April 2007
Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (AGGS) in Trafford was delighted to be approached by Lorraine Flinn, CILT consultant, with a view to organising and hosting a regional primary languages event.
Around sixty colleagues from various backgrounds attended the afternoon / twilight training on 26th April. After much thought about the format, we decided to invite experienced, inspirational speakers to help schools move forward on their Primary Languages journey.
AGGS Language College Director, Gail Wickstead, welcomed delegates and speakers and we were pleased that Alison Gilvey, Comenius North-West Regional Manager, was able to join us to present the scene succinctly and explain current thinking and strategies.
Janet Lloyd, Primary Languages Consultant well-known for her creative projects, showed us how to build and support capacity in schools: she movingly described how language learning can make such a difference to children’s lives.
Nigel Pearson, Language Teaching Advisor for CILT, was as entertaining and informative as ever. Delegates really appreciated his introduction to the CILT Training Zone as he gave us demonstrations and sound practical advice.
Collaboration with universities on ITT projects is an excellent way of bringing expertise into the classroom as well as helping to develop and consolidate high-quality language teaching. Tony Rae, Head Teacher at Seymour Park Primary School in Trafford, described how his school’s involvement had benefited children and staff. Since joining the Primary Languages ITT programme his school, together with King’s Road Primary School (also in Trafford), had combined forces to coordinate an exciting Comenius project, linking them with partner schools in France and in Spain. The “Six Schools
Project” represented a landmark development on their journey to introduce languages with a strongly international dimension and, ultimately, an international primary curriculum. Pura Ariza, Lecturer in Education at Manchester Metropolitan University and co-ordinator of the primary MFL exchange, explained the university’s programmes in detail, and welcomed the greater involvement of as many colleagues as possible in the Greater Manchester region.
After a break for refreshments in AGGS’ glamorous new staff common and dining room, Paul Burrows of the British Council took us through programmes the Council offers (of the kind described earlier by Tony Rae) which can help us link up with schools in other countries and extend cultural knowledge and linguistic confidence. Paul had travelled from Northern Ireland to join us. Thank you!
Finally, Lorraine Flinn gave us practical examples, many from her personal experience in schools, of how the transition from primary to secondary can be managed.
With Nigel and Lorraine present, there was no way we would be allowed to escape without a song and dance routine: true to form, they sent us skipping away with a song in our hearts.
I should like to thank sincerely all the speakers for giving up their time to provide excellent training and also my colleagues, Clare Crowson, Diane Pullen and Phil Styles (AGGS) and Christine Ormond (Trafford), for their help with organisation.
Feedback was pleasing and I shall finish by quoting one delegate: “All very informative, quick pace, lots of ideas; I was inspired and excited.”
Gail Wickstead, Altrincham Grammer School for Girls, April 2007
For guidance about running a regional event please visit the SLC advice pages.
Further information about the ELL-LC project is also available.
