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The Provider:
Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College
Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College is a co-educational, 11-16 Catholic High School serving the City of Worcester and South Worcestershire. The school was opened in 1963 by the Catholic community to educate its children, but also offers education to pupils of other Christian denominations, world faiths and those who are supportive of the college‘s ethos. As a Birmingham Archdiocese school, Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College has close links with parishes and feeder schools, and its wide catchment area extends to include Droitwich, Pershore, Malvern and Evesham. The college has developed as a multi-faith and multicultural community, drawing its 1050 pupils not only from the traditionally Catholic European cultures, but from Asian and African ethnic backgrounds. The diversity of culture creates an exciting environment for the development of languages. The college plays an active role in the life of the city. Pupils are encouraged to participate in a wide range of events and enrichment activities, including public speaking, performing arts productions, Art exhibitions as well as any Modern Language opportunities that arise or are created through the college.
Summary:
- We are all born with a predisposition to communicate with others. In this highly technological age in which we live, the world has shrunk and in every profession there are now opportunities and requirements to be able to communicate with people in different countries. An ability to communicate in their language is clearly an advantage. At Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College, there are opportunities for all pupils, regardless of their ability, to develop their linguistic and communication skills in a number of different languages. In addition, a range of qualifications is available, which has served to increase pupil motivation as well as empowered pupils of all abilities to achieve acknowledgement and accreditation for their learning
The Aim:
- As members of the international community, the Modern Foreign Language Department continues to create various opportunities to promote not only the learning of languages, but also the love of, and appreciation for, language. This continues to increase pupil interest and motivation, culminating in qualifications for all pupils. The department is committed to raising the profile of languages, as well as providing increasing choice and challenge to ensure that learning a foreign language is meaningful, interesting and enjoyable.
What do you see in the school?
- College improvement Plan
- Continuing professional development undertaken by language staff
- Governing body support through meetings
- Senior management support
- Prefect system which encourages mentors in Years 10 and 11
- Parents support especially if they have language skills e.g. Japanese and Urdu
- Teachers peer assessment
- Governors take in foreign exchange students
- Department curriculum statement
- College improvement plan
- Departmental minutes completed
- Self evaluation and improvement within department
- Governors minutes – every meeting has a report regarding modern foreign languages and appreciation of other cultures
- Management systems and structures are clear
- Link governor
- Performance management
- Inclusion of other languages and appreciation of cultures
- A range of overseas visits are arranged – e.g. German exchange,
- Video conferencing being set up
- Each year a group of year 10 student go to Thailand and work in an orphanage
- Visit by French theatre company
- Links with a school in France via e-mail
- Exchange with teachers in Uganda
- E-mail links with other students
- Homework boards listing details
- Euro studies for the less able
- Offer French, German, Spanish, Italian GCSE’s
- Japanese certificate of achievement and GCSE and AS offered
- Talented pupils entered early
- Parent helps with speaking exams for URDU
- Use internet – linguascope.com
- Celebration of languages through dance, drama, music- pupils sell tickets and raise money for language trips – Bollywood dance group
- MFL week each year
- Year 8 video conference with school in Stuttgart. Write letters and e-mail foreign students
- Taster lessons for languages
- Special days e.g. food from other countries
- Department self review
- Postcards/stickers sent home to acknowledge achievements
- Awards assembly
- Termly departmental review
- Planning review meetings with the Principal
- Senior Leadership Team informal observations
- Reports to governors
- Links with European schools – e-mail/video conferencing
- Exchange visits
- Established links with Sixth form college
- Established links with primary schools
- Parents kept informed and involved in work
- Celebration evening
- Termly meetings with MFL Worcester City Heads of Department
- Established links with tertiary colleges
- Involvement in network meetings
- Links with primary schools
- Participation in regional language events and competitions
- Meetings of heads of area
What difference does it make?
- Element of ‘fun’ in all lessons
- Appreciation of other languages
- All pupils able to study their own languages e.g. Japanese, Greek, Polish, Portugese and URDU
- Bullying is not a problem as pupils understand each others cultures
- Cross curricular work – drama, music
- Overseas trips
- All pupils receive opportunities in a range of languages
- Pupils find themselves speaking one language in another language class
- AS level offered for G and T pupils
- Children more confident and enthusiastic
From where is evidence collected to prove the Leading Aspect?
- Assessment manager data
- Celebration programme
- College Improvement Plan
- CPD opportunities
- Curriculum guides
- Department curriculum statement
- Departmental minutes & handbook
- Departmental self review documents
- Details of school trips overseas
- Details of Japanese club/ URDU examination being delivered
- Details of extra curricular clubs and celebration
- Details of visits abroad including large display board of information about annual visit to orphanage in Thailand
- Details of Spanish link school
- Details of celebration evening
- Evaluation results from parents and pupils questionnaire
- Examination results including AS level
- Exchange information
- Extra curricular activities
- Foreign language magazines in library
- Governors’ minutes
- Head of area external meeting minutes
- Homework boards
- Lunchtime language activities e.g. Japanese club
- MFL notice boards
- OFSTED statement
- Press reports
- Professional development logs
- Pupil work
- Pupil and parent questionnaires and analysis
- Schemes of work
- School newsletter
- Staff INSET/courses record
- Staff handbook
- Termly pupil reports
- Termly departmental report
The Verifiers Comment
- All pupils take a modern foreign language at KS4
- Annual trip by year 10 pupils to work in an orphanage in Thailand
- Languages reflect the range of mother tongues of pupils e.g. Japanese and Urdu
- Foreign language clubs organised at lunchtime and twilight
- Display Boards reflect cultures and traditions from around the World
- Celebration evening recognises cultures and fund raises for trips
- Exchange visits and e-mail links with foreign schools
- Great deal of parental support for language and cultural development
- Video conferencing with foreign school in Stuttgart
- Special days to reflect other cultures
- Governor support in school and accommodating exchange students
- Prefect mentors for MFL in years 10 and 11
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