Happy Talk

Grange Park Primary School is celebrating its modern foreign language-teaching award from the government this week.

Developing the international aspect of the curriculum has been a feature at the school since 2003 when French was first introduced and this was followed with Spanish a few years later.

Head teacher, Paul Smith, said, “Our children have the chance to learn two languages for two years – and are extremely good linguists by the end of the period.

“We focus on speaking and listening, developing and using an oral vocabulary and take advantage of all opportunities. For example parents who are native speakers support and contribute to our lessons and specialist staff from the nearby Highlands Secondary School also offer valued expertise and contributions.”

Each junior class has a weekly 40minute lesson and to reinforce fluency, French and Spanish are regularly heard and spoken as an incidental part of every day school life such as morning registration.

The school is proud of its achievements in this field and does not just confine its language teaching to speaking alone.

Paul Smith continues, “Teaching modern languages gives us the opportunity make links with other subjects such as geography, music, arts and history. We also extend the opportunities for those children who have a special language talent and we run a thriving Saturday French club.”

Grange Park also celebrates European Day of Languages each year with other local primary schools.

Class assemblies, displays, a Spanish day, a French shopping experience and International Food Week have all contributed to the school’s cultural celebrations and recently the opera ‘Carmen’ was performed in French to a group of 10 year olds.

In the latest run of successful activities, a group of Grange Park 11 year olds are acting as guides to pupils from a Czech School.

The Czech children are coming to Grange Park this week and on Friday they will be guided in central London by their hosts when they visit the London Eye and take a stroll along the Thames.

Peter Lewis, director of education, children’s services and leisure, children’s services and leisure, said, “Language teaching in our primary schools is really taking off. It is a great way to foster understanding between different cultures and an appreciation of different nations.

“Enfield’s reputation in primary school language teaching just gets better and better. Well done everyone at Grange Park.”

Modern Languages adviser, Bernadette Clinton, added, “Grange Park deserves this government recognition. The school has built up a superb language resource, encouraged parents to take part and enjoyed the growing mix of communities at the school. This is a place where languages flourish and children do well.”

An HMI inspection this year noted:

• Pupils’ attitudes to learning modern languages are very positive, and boys and girls are equally well motivated. Pupils listen attentively throughout the lessons and their behaviour is outstanding.

• Intercultural understanding is good. For example, pupils in a French lesson in Year 6 were able to compare their school life with that of children in France. Pupils’ cultural development is good because staff work hard to promote respect for all the languages spoken within the school community.

• There is an effective model of delivery of languages in Key Stage 2. The rationale is to provide an early start, which will develop pupils’ language skills in two foreign languages.

• The school aims to develop an enthusiasm for language and for future language learning and to make the international dimension an integral part of the curriculum.

• Leaders have established a clear rationale for modern languages and a shared vision amongst the staff. As a result, pupils achieve well.

This document was last updated on 2008-06-06 10:28:53 published by the Communications team. Document Reference:LBE_132874