Teaching may be of any modern or ancient foreign language and should focus on enabling pupils to make substantial progress in one language. The teaching should provide an appropriate balance of spoken and written language and should lay the foundations for further foreign language teaching at Key Stage 3. It should enable pupils to understand and communicate ideas, facts and feelings in speech and writing, focused on familiar and routine matters, using their knowledge of phonology, grammatical structures and vocabulary. The focus of study in modern languages will be on practical communication.

Here at our school, we have a French specialist teacher who teaches every class each week - all the way from Reception to Year 6. She also gives the children a flavour of other languages, such as Spanish and German.

Through this work and our international studies, our school has been awarded the British Council’s prestigious International School Award in recognition of its work to bring the world into the classroom.

 

The International School Award celebrates the achievements of schools that do exceptional work in international education. Fostering an international dimension in the curriculum is at the heart of the British Council’s work with schools, so that young people gain the cultural understanding and skills they need for life work in today’s world.

 

Kington St Michael CE Primary School’s international work includes leading a whole school Global Week, Fair Trade Fortnight, Bastille Day and Chinese New Year celebrations and developing strong links with schools overseas.

 

Sir Ciarán Devane, CEO of the British Council, said: ‘The school’s fantastic international work has rightfully earned it this prestigious award. The International School Award is a great chance for schools to demonstrate the important work they’re doing to bring the world into their classrooms. Embedding an international dimension in children’s education ensures that they are truly global citizens and helps prepare them for successful lives and careers in an increasingly global economy.’