Institution: Dorothy Stringer

'I am doing fast-track GCSE at the moment. I think that it’s great that students at Dorothy Stringer get the opportunity to do their GCSE two years earlier. It is a lot of work, but you get lots of help and it pushes you to do the best you can. It also gives you the choice to do another language GCSE when you get to Year 11.' Pupil from Dorothy Stringer School

Context
Dorothy Stringer is a vibrant and popular comprehensive school for approximately 1500 students aged between 11 and 16. It is a Sports Specialist College in the Preston Park area of Brighton. All pupils are taught at least one foreign language (French) throughout KS3 and about 70% of pupils learn a second language (Spanish or German) in years 8 and 9. About 35% of pupils follow a fast-track GCSE French course in years 8 and 9. GCSE French, German and Spanish and Advanced French are offered as options in KS4.

Key objectives

• To ensure that pupils achieve their full potential in French at KS4
• To encourage more pupils to move onto further study of French at sixth form and university.
  

How the programme is organised

• In Years 8 and 9, pupils are taught in ability sets, with sets 1 and 2 following the GCSE fast-track French. In KS4 these pupils move on to an Advanced Asset Languages course. 
• All pupils begin with 5 hours a fortnight of French in year 7, in mixed ability classes. In Year 7 pupils are put into sets halfway through the year.
• In Years 8 and 9, pupils are taught in ability sets, with sets 1 and 2 following the GCSE fast-track French course, set 3 following the higher KS3 Métro course and sets 4 following the foundation KS3 Métro course.
• Pupils in the fast-track groups have 5 hours a fortnight of French and 2 hours a fortnight of either Spanish or German. In KS4 pupils follow the Advanced Asset course. Pupils who follow the Advanced Asset course have 5 hours a fortnight of lessons. They also have one homework a week.
  

Teaching advanced French classes is extremely fulfilling. I work with children who are passionate about language and also culture. Three of my former pupils are now studying at the university of the Sorbonne in Paris.' Ilham Monro (MFL, fast track GCSE and Advanced Asset teacher)

'French is my first language and I am studying Asset Advanced French. I love this class as it allows me to keep up with my French, doing exciting, creative activities such as filming a soap opera.' Pupil, Dorothy Stringer School

Results/effect
Results for the first 4 years of the fast-track were 100% A*-C (c.60 pupils sat the exam each year). From 2006 the cohort was doubled by entering sets 1 and 2 in year 9 for the GCSE (c.120 pupils which is a third of the year group) and results have been 2006 – 95% and 2007 – 90% A*-C.

'We are taking a GCSE this year in Year 9 and we feel it’s an opportunity to do a useful GCSE earlier. It’s fun and enjoyable and challenges us to learn a language. It stimulates pupils and ensures pupils reach their full potential.' Pupil, Dorothy Stringer School

Resources
Métro is used for the GCSE fast track course and Elan for the Asset course. Elan has to be adapted to take account of the fact that the questions for the Advanced Asset are posed in English.

Future developments
It is planned to continue offering the fast-track course, however we are going to trial the Asset Intermediate French examination rather than the new GCSE. We will also be entering non fast-track pupils for either Breakthrough or Preliminary Asset examinations in French at the end of KS3. We will continue offering Advanced Asset French to those who wish to continue post fast-track. In addition, Intermediate French, Spanish and German Asset will be offered in KS4. Spanish, in particular, has been a popular language in the past for post fast-track pupils who do not wish to continue with Advanced French but who wish to continue with their language studies.

Author: Rachel Revéreault, Head of Modern Languages, Dorothy Stringer High School