COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING - 19 SEPTEMBER 2001
Reply By The Leader Or His Nominee To A Question Asked by Mr M Hunt CC
1) Noting that the recent Nuffield Languages Inquiry identified a serious national need to improve our capability in languages, will the Cabinet Members responsible for Education and the Libraries indicate to Council how the Local Education Authority and our Library Service may have responded to, and will continue to respond to, the European Year of Languages 2001 and what events, particularly aimed at raising the profile of modern foreign language learning, the County Council has considered supporting for European Day of Languages on 26th September 2001.
All Leicestershire schools receive regular information about the European Year of Languages (EYL) and the Adviser for Modern Foreign Languages/Comenius Co-ordinator gave a presentation on EYL to Heads of Department in December 2000 just prior to the year starting, and a further one to Link Advisers in February 2001 so that they would be aware of it. The Education Department were given leaflets regarding the Language Challenge.
29 June 2001 was designated "Comenius EYL Day" across England and Wales and Leicestershire schools and colleges were asked to mount their EYL events on or and/or around this day to give a sense of unity to them across the country. Many Leicestershire schools took up this challenge.
It was intended to run an EYL event for teachers about bringing Europe into the Modern Foreign Language classroom, but despite two attempts in February and May, this recruited poorly and was cancelled. This outcome is very much in line with schools only being able to release teachers for events linked to schools' major priorities.
The Education Department has informed all its schools of the existence of the European Day of Languages on 26 September 2001, but it is at each individual school's discretion as to how they will mark that day.
In recognition of the European Year of Languages 2001, the Libraries and Information Service has undertaken to improve its holdings of modern European and other language books at the market town libraries. To this end, an additional £10,000 (from the £100,000 allocated for growth) is being spent.
2) Could he tell members what measures could be promoted by the LEA in their support for the curriculum in schools to:
The Learning and Skills Council will take responsibility for Key Stage 5 (post 16 education) including funding from April 2002. However, at the moment, in addition to the present courses at A Level in mainstream schools, our Community Centres and Colleges run a full range of MFL courses at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, as well as conversational provision.
The LEA hosts the Leicestershire Comenius Centre at Quorn Hall. This is the East Midlands Regional Centre for information, In-service training and support for language teachers of pupils from 5 - 18.
Last year, upwards of 400 teachers attended training of one type or another at or through the centre, or at Beaumanor Hall. Through the Comenius Centre Leicestershire teachers are supported with professional development, in-service training courses, workshops, conferences and consultancy, as well as up to date information on developments, and opportunities to evaluate new resources for MFL.
The Comenius Centre at Quorn Hall houses a large selection of resources for MFL including new resources from all of the major publishers that produce courses and material for teaching and learning. It is open to teachers to 'drop-in' or make appointments to visit and evaluate materials and to work in the centre. The centre is linked to the Internet.
Latest developments involve establishing a support group for Early Language Learning, involvement in the National Talk Project and developing with two other Comenius Centres a national Roadshow for MFL and the KS3 Strategy.
CILT (Centre for Information and Language Teaching) has recently written to the Director of Education praising the work of Leicestershire in the following terms:-
"The service provided by Leicestershire enjoys an unrivalled reputation in our field."
Raising levels of achievement in modern foreign languages has been identified as a main area for improvement by the Cabinet. This is one of a number of measures to be met from the additional funds approved by the County Council in its 2001/2 budget, for the improvement of pupil achievement at the end of Key Stage 4.
The Libraries and Information Service is also, this year, participating in the East Midlands Reading and Literature Development Project. This involves a major training programme for library workers in the East Midlands and includes an emphasis on how books in languages other than English can be more effectively promoted in the community. As part of a separate project, the holdings of Linguaphone material have been improved by the acquisition of full courses in 29 international languages.
Library Services for Education provides a range of resources (books and other materials) for loan to support teachers in the delivery of the MFL Curriculum, especially the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority's schemes of work.
3) Could he say what advantage the LEA has considered making of the grants for Out of School Hours Learning, not only modern foreign language learning but also music, drama, art, sports or volunteering activities."
Leicestershire LEA has received £800,000 from the New Opportunities Fund for Out of School Learning for term time study support provision over three years. We are currently approaching the end of year one.
The same New Opportunities Fund has awarded the County £125,000 for Summer schools across the county. 14 Summer schools were funded this year and it is anticipated that the same numbers will be offered in the next two years.
NOF funded provision includes term time provision at:
There have been more than 8,000 attendances at NOF funded Out of School Learning sessions in the last academic year and an estimated 1500 pupils regularly participate.
Summer schools provision this year included specific drama, sports art and music projects. 404 pupils participated in this summer's programme.
There are plans include next year a specific residential experience in the county "France at Quorn" to focus on Modern Foreign Languages.
There are some dozen named adult volunteers assisting in the delivery of out of school learning in the county and approximately 40 young people active as "student tutors" and "study buddies". These pupils support the learning of other young people.
Leicestershire was a pilot Authority for 16+ activities for young people. The NOF Board has now identified the Council to act as the lead organisation on behalf of the Summer Activity Project for the Leicestershire Connexions area."