Institution: Priory School

Priory School is an 11-16 comprehensive school in East Sussex with approximately 1200 pupils on roll. We have specialist school status in Performing Arts, Languages, Science and Maths. Our other awards include International schools award, Sportsmark, Artsmark Gold, Committed to Careers, Healthy Schools Award and Investor in People. In Key Stage 4 we offer diplomas, young apprenticeships and vocational courses through a consortium of other local schools and colleges as well as traditional GCSE courses.

Context
In Year 7 pupils study Spanish, German and French. They are then able to state at the end of the year a preference for which language they would like to study and approximately 50% of pupils study two languages for the rest of Key Stage 3. In KS4 languages are optional but we traditionally have quite a high uptake. Currently in Year 10 we have approximately 60% of the year group studying a language

Key objectives
To offer an alternative to GCSE so that lower ability students are able to access a language qualification which is not exam-based and to increase MFL take-up at KS4 as a consequence. The pupils who have chosen to opt for NVQ Languages probably wouldn’t have chosen to study a language if NVQ had not been available.

In 2009 13 pupils in Year 11 completed NVQ French and eight completed NVQ German. In Year 10 we have eight pupils working towards NVQ French. In 2008 7 pupils completed NVQ German and 7 NVQ French

How the programme is organised
The main issue is organisation as there is a lot of paperwork to sort out so allocate time for this

• Pupils have 3 hours a week teaching time which we have found to be more than sufficient to complete all work and assessments without relying on homework to be completed
• For French we use the Applied French course book Leisure and Tourism by Gill Beckett and have found this particularly useful and easy to follow
• In German we have developed our own resources as well as (G)NVQ edition Talking Business German by Andy and Ulrike Yeomans, Peter Lupson, Doug Embleton and Elspeth Eggington
• Have a clear outline of what assessments you are going to do. (Leisure and tourism has assessment ideas ready to use so no need to prepare anything)
• Leave plenty of time to complete the assessments so pupils are not left feeling pressurised by them
• Remember to remind pupils constantly that their portfolio is their exam and give them ownership of it by producing simple things like a front cover.

Results/effect
As a department we are very pleased with the progress our groups have made and are encouraged to continue to deliver the NVQ. Pupils work hard and seem encouraged by their growing portfolios and by being able to work towards a qualification step by step.  Relationships with these pupils are also more positive as there is not the confrontation regarding homework and coursework which can be a problem with lower ability pupils.

All pupils who have opted to take NVQ have achieved a Level 2 to date.  In terms of achievement for these pupils it is outstanding as traditionally they would be pupils who probably would not have chosen to study a language or may not have coped with the examination process involved with GCSE languages.

In terms of Achievement and Attainment points the pupils have all achieved 48 points which is the equivalent to a B grade at GCSE and of course this has a similar benefit for the school. For some of these pupils it has been their highest point score.

“I didn't think I could do German but I'm really pleased I achieved a Level 2” NVQ German student 2008

“It's a good way of studying French without doing GCSE; which is harder." NVQ French student 2009

“No tests! I have loads of other tests next year and so it is easier and there is less pressure." NVQ French student 2009

What could be better than 13 beaming faces, bristling with the pride of having achieved a Level 2?

To download an example of an NVQ portfolio click here. (pdf 5.3MB)

Most recent Ofsted report (illustrating effectiveness of the more flexible language curriculum)

‘The curriculum is a strong and exciting feature of the school. It has improved considerably in the last two years. The format of teaching modern foreign languages has completely changed and is now much more appealing to students.  Extensive use is made of external providers including colleges, the YMCA and Southend United football club to extend learning. The school is continually adding to its range of accredited courses to cater for the students' diverse interests, provide them with better future opportunities and keep them engaged with school. '

Future developments
 We will continue to offer NVQ French and German as well as introducing Spanish.

Author: Patricia Cowlin, Priory School