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Secondary education

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Original poster

What happens to state kids entering independent secondaries without any foreign languages?

34 replies

PureQuintessence · 23/03/2013 22:22

Son is going into the independent sector for secondary after a state primary.
I reckon a very large percentage of his new classmates will already have had Latin, French, Mandarin. Do schools help or offer a fast track for children who has not had the benefit of this, or will they just end up in the bottom set?
How are lessons structured?

OP posts:
BooksandaCuppa · 23/03/2013 23:02

I didn't bother for ds (probably should have as his lowest attainment grades are in MFL; though still good enough for top set) but I think those Usborne sets of books/DVDs/CDs are supposed to be pretty good.

Original poster
PureQuintessence · 23/03/2013 23:00

At least 50% will be from the independent sector, as that is how many is coming in from the Junior school What proportion of the rest come from private I dont know.

I think I need to prepare him a little.

Any book recommendations?

OP posts:
BooksandaCuppa · 23/03/2013 22:55

Depends on how many of his senior school will also have come from state.

Ds (now yr 7 - state primary; non-selective independent secondary) is just about holding his own in top sets for MFL despite having very little French at primary (French and Spanish now). I guess that's because a) they actually 'stream' for the first half term and his Cats/Sats results were very good; b) by the time they 'set' rather than stream them after first half term, he's caught up with the (bottom end of the) top third of his year, which is the top set, and c) maybe the children from the prep haven't had that amazing a headstart. This third aspect could be one that is very different for your son's school...

Original poster
PureQuintessence · 23/03/2013 22:55

I think I need to hand him over to my cousin. She is a French Teacher....

OP posts:
Picturesinthefirelight · 23/03/2013 22:54

Dd is at an independent primary. They did French but at a very basic level. However they have recently started a carousel system - one term each if French German & Spanish.

The letter sent from the senior school ;she goes into year 7 in sept asks them to choose which language they want to study in years 7&8 and points out that no prior knowledge will be assumed.

thereinmadnesslies · 23/03/2013 22:51

I started at indie secondary from a state primary with no knowledge of languages. It was v tough - there were no catch up classes and no streaming so I was in a class with a mix of abilities where the teacher had high expectations.

Could you contact the school to ask what their expectations are - maybe you could do some language work like learning numbers etc over the summer if the school are expecting all children to have a basic knowledge from the start.

Original poster
PureQuintessence · 23/03/2013 22:50

His primary has done French. They have done one hour per week, and nobody has learnt anything. The parents have tried to get the HT to take French seriously and get a competent teacher on board, to the point of suggesting using PTA funds to pay for it, but to no avail. So, no French. The lessons have mostly consisted of random vocabulary and no grammar. Son has come home with worksheets with spellings of random objects, including various vegetables, and no context. They tried to get a French after school club running, but the children came home with sugar paste figurines as part of culture study. One of the mums put her foot down and said "I will do after school French for free" - She is French, and it has improved, but demand far outweighs supply.

OP posts:
whoknowswho · 23/03/2013 22:48

My DS had done only a little French when he moved from a state primary to a private secondary. They were grouped in ability and he was in the bottom.... 2 years on he's in the top set for 3 languages. MFL in primary is not statutory in the curriculum at the moment so your DS won't be on his own.

Talkinpeace · 23/03/2013 22:37

has his Primary not done French?
My kids school do it from year 3 onwards - as do all others in teh county