Introduction ¦ Latest news ¦ Press office ¦ Press coverage ¦ CNS Weekly ¦ RSS ¦ Archives

Press Release
13 November 2008

Two national conferences offer inspiration in secondary languages

Languages teachers and managers looking for inspirational examples of best practice in secondary schools will benefit from two major national conferences run by CILT, the National Centre for Languages, in early 2009. The CILT A Level Show and Flying High will showcase cutting edge teaching practice as well as providing up to the minute information on topics including the new secondary curriculum, Diplomas, and transition.

Both conferences are aimed at those working on languages in the secondary sector, with the A level Show focusing on key issues relating to the 16-19 age group, while Flying High demonstrates best practice from across the whole spectrum of secondary language teaching and learning.

The CILT A level show takes place on Saturday 24 January at CILT, the National Centre for Languages, in London. Designed for Heads of Languages and languages teachers in the 16-19 sector, this key conference will explore a range of topics including Routes into Languages, best practice in AS and A level teaching, and updates on the new 14-19 Diplomas and the new Diploma in languages.

This year’s Show also provides a range of workshops on alternative offers, including the International Baccalaureate, alternatives to GCSE, NVQ unites and Asset languages accreditation, as well as specialist ICT sessions on developing a VLE for independent on elearning and video-conferencing for A and AS level. Key speakers at the conference include Dr Lid King, National Director for Languages, and Kathryn Board, Chief Executive of CILT, the National Centre for Languages: www.cilt.org.uk/alevel.htm

Flying High, run by CILT, National in partnership with the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT), takes place on Thursday 12 February at Holywell Park in Loughborough. This year’s conference focuses on building on student’s prior knowledge and understanding within and across key stages, with themes including the new secondary curriculum, developments in the KS3 Strategic Learning Networks, cross-curricular projects, community languages and transition.

Suitable for modern languages teachers and managers, local authority advisers, inspectors and teacher trainers, the conference explores case studies of good practice from practising teachers and senior managers in Specialist Language Colleges. Key speakers at the event include Dr Terry Lamb, Director of Initial Teacher Education at the University of Sheffield, and Alan Davies, Head of Bishop Rawstorne SLC. www.cilt.org.uk/cpd/flyinghigh.htm

Kathryn Board, Chief Executive of CILT, the National Centre for Languages, said: ‘With the new secondary curriculum, and developments such as the new Diplomas and the Languages Diploma, this is an exciting time for secondary languages. We hope that these two conferences will inspire teachers by demonstrating some of the excellent activity happening in languages at 4-19 and throughout secondary education, as well as provide a forum to share ideas and information on all the developments taking place in this fast moving sector.’

To find out more about CILT’s training opportunities for languages teachers and managers, visit www.cilt.org.uk/cpd