Institution: Avon Valley College
'Disaffected students are
developing a more mature approach to their learning. This
seems to be seeping through into other
curriculum areas. I have been asked to help other schools to
develop their NVQ provision.' Susan Hinton, Head of MFL
Context
Avon Valley College is a
specialist Sports College with a growing population of students.
The school teaches an innovative range of subjects to 11–18 year
olds. There are a growing number of adult education courses and out
of hours courses. Students have access to a range of
qualifications including GCSE, AS and A2, BTEC and NVQ courses. The
provision of construction, hair and beauty, mechanics courses are
well established. The college is part of a consortium of other
secondary schools in the Salisbury Plain cluster. The college is
very much part of the community and liaises closely with other
providers to ensure our students are offered the education most
suited to their needs. Avon Valley is a recognised Investor in
People, a designated Healthy School and is aiming for International
School status.
Key objectives
To offer a more appropriate
work-related language course to some students in KS4 to improve
motivation and results in languages.
How the programme is organised
Currently
there are 119 students in Year 11 studying NVQ Languages with a
similar number in Year 10. Construction has approximately 20
students in Year 11 and these students have language input during
their language lessons. Hair and Beauty currently has approximately
150 students but they do not have Hair and Beauty specific language
units to complete. Hair and Beauty will be liaising with the MFL
department to develop units to be accredited.
Results/effect
The students have achieved
Level 1 and are working towards Level 2 for almost 92% of the
cohort. The NVQ course in languages has had a motivational effect
in surprising areas. Students want to attend after school
lessons and arrange lunchtime sessions to complete specific tasks.
Staff are asked for feedback – not for the answers. There is a lot
more peer support in the NVQ lessons. It has been recognised by the
students that it is good to ask each other for help or correction
of their work. The knock on effect cannot yet be measured
but improved results are anticipated in the summer of
2008.
The MFL teachers have adapted to the different teaching style
and regularly exchange resources and ideas. They are pleased with
the progress their groups have made and are encouraged to continue
to deliver the NVQ. Other vocational staff have approached the
languages department to discuss a language input for their courses.
Colleagues are keen to deliver the language content and seem
willing to learn alongside their students.
Future developments
Resources will
continue to be developed and the school will probably expand the
range of languages offered. It is hoped to develop a hair and
beauty and a mechanics course in MFL.
Author: Susan Hinton, Head of MFL at Avon Valley College
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