Reasons for participation

The following key reasons for participation were highlighted by BLC schools that took part in a recent survey: 

• Highlighting the value of languages (100% agree/strongly agree)
• Raising the profile of languages (95% agree/strongly agree)
• Enhancing students’ intercultural skills and confidence (90% agree/strongly agree)
• Boosting language take-up at KS4 (90% agree/strongly agree)
• Raising the profile of languages within the school (70%)

Impact

In terms of impact, the vast majority of teachers (97% & 95% respectively) felt that participating in the BLC scheme had increased student appreciation of languages and raised their interest in languages. In addition, over four-fifths (86%) of teachers believed that participating in BLC activities had raised intercultural awareness amongst students.

Importantly, over two-thirds (71%) of teachers felt that participation in BLC had had a direct impact on raising take-up of languages at KS4. Data provided by participating schools suggests that, on average, there was a 4% rise in KS4 language take-up post BLC involvement.

Teacher comment

“It really helped them [the students], but the biggest impact for me in increasing our quota for how many pupils take languages this year was the fact that, often in Year 9, there comes a point, where pupils choose their options and in the subjects that they’re not choosing, they would stop making any effort.  This year, Year 9 pupils, right up to the end of the year, were working, learning and trying their hardest to improve their French, and even if they hadn’t chosen a language, I feel that they felt that they had made enough progress and would be able to use that as a skill in their future careers.” (Teacher at Woolwich Polytechnic)