Context
Beaufort Community School is a large mixed Community school in the area of Tuffley, a suburb to the South of the city of Gloucester. Gloucester city still operates a grammar school system. Beaufort is the only 11-18 mixed comprehensive in the city. All students in Year 9 study one Modern Foreign Language, either French or Spanish.

Key objectives

• To trial the AQA FCSE qualification with two pilot groups in Year 9.
• To accredit performance in French and Spanish of a set 1 of 3 group of Year 9 students which was the pilot group selected.  All of these students have a high level of motivation and interest but some may not choose a language as an option in KS4.
  

How the programme is organised
A communicative approach is used with the emphasis on a can do basis. Presentation, repetition, receptive practice and productive skills follow. The topics taught are carefully selected and the scheme of work  at the school allows a lot of flexibility. 

Results/effect
Results look set to be high. All students, or at the worst most of them,  will achieve a distinction in the exam.

“It is great to get a proper qualification as I won’t be doing French next year. In other subjects I will have nothing to show for my 3 years at secondary school.”(Year 9 student)

“I have changed my mind now and have chosen French next year because I think I can do well as a result of these tests.” (Year 9 Student)

“it has focused students on achieving” (Member of SLT)

Future developments
It is planned to use the scheme in years 8 and 9 across the whole of the two years so that delivery of the course can be more relaxed. 

Author: Stuart Glover, Subject Leader for MFL.