Institution: Sir William Stanier School

Context
Sir William Stanier Community School  is a recently amalgamated school (Sept.2007) situated in the centre of Crewe. The amalgamation was due to falling numbers and brought together two schools about half a mile apart. The area that the school serves is varied but many pupils live in areas of high deprivation and from families with no tradition of further or higher education. Years 7 and 8 are all taught on one site but Years 9, 10 and 11 are taught on the original two sites. 

Key objective
To accredit performance in languages at the end of the key stage to ensure that students not continuing a study of languages in KS4 could be rewarded for the language they have studied for a number of years

How the programme is organised
The Foundation Certificate in Secondary Education (FCSE) is taught to all pupils in Year 9. The cohort is across the whole spectrum of ability although the year group does contain a greater than usual number of SEN pupils, including those with learning, behavioural and specific needs. The pupils are grouped according to ability within four bands (two on each site). One of the groups has support in lessons.

Most of the FCSE Modules extend the work covered in Years 7 and 8 though there are other units which cover different areas and are possibly more relevant to our youngsters.  Structures are covered within the vocabulary of the module being taught. Only three out of 12 modules have to be submitted so there is a wide range to choose from and those chosen can be tailored to the interests of the pupils. There are also two sets of assessments for each module so there is an opportunity to re-sit.

Results/effect
FCSE has proved to the pupils that they can achieve success in French. The course has also given a different focus to Year 9 rather than ‘more of the same’ even for those pupils who will not continue with French. For those continuing in KS4, the rigour of formal assessments has proved good practice for the future. Furthermore, because the assessments are ‘levelled’ tracking progress and evidencing attainment is easy.

The introduction of FCSE French in Year 9 has led to a steady increase in the numbers of students opting for GCSE French in KS4. Although still low, numbers have quadrupled over three years from only 5 students to 20 in the forthcoming academic year. 

Future developments
To date, the FCSE course at the school has focused on units on meeting people, leisure and food and drink to ensure that topics are very familiar to the pupils. It is planned to investigate studying other modules however and examples could be media, work or celebrations. Starting the units towards the end of Year 8 might also be a possibility.

Author: Janet Smith, Sir William Stanier Community School