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Original poster

Idiot mother alert - Missed deadline for choosing language in yr 7

31 replies

MinginInTheRain · 01/07/2014 23:26

I am an idiot. First ever post - feel like I've let my DD down dreadfully. My DD is off to secondary school and we received a massive pack of forms to fill in once her place was confirmed.

We were also signposted to the school website for more information to 'aid her transition to Year 7'. I tried to access website without much luck and called school but to be honest I thought that the most important forms (ie those requiring action or signatures) had been sent by post.

I have just found out that on the website was a letter regarding a modern language to be taught in Yr 7. This language will be taught alongside Latin. InYear 8 Latin can be dropped in favour of another language or the first modern language can be swapped.

The letter didn't ask for first, second preference etc but just asked parents to inform the school if they had a particular reason for wanting a specific language.

So basically I have missed my opportunity to choose the language my DD will learn for potentially the next 5 years. I am guessing she won't be keen on Latin as she wants to focus on modern languages and has talked about doing them for GCSE and beyond.

I have talked to the school but no joy. Is it wierd that language choice is decided in such a hidden way? I would have thought this letter should have been right at the front of Welcome Pack that came in the post.. Certainly above a form to give permission to take DD photo or the one evolving how canteen works!!!

I'm in the kaka! Any advice for me to rectify this before my DD realises what has happened?

OP posts:
steppemum · 01/07/2014 23:53

She can do a ML, she just doesn't get to express a preference for French or Spanish or...

Is that a big problem? Did she have a strong preference?

My friend's ds school is like this, and they needed him NOT to do French as he is bi-lingual French. In their case, if you phoned the school, I would imagine the school would be understanding (easier on the french teacher not to have one fluent speaker in a class of novices)

But if it is just a preference, then it is not really a bog deal is it?

MirandaWest · 01/07/2014 23:46

It sounds like if you have a particular reason for wanting your child to study a certain language that they wanted to know by a certain date, so the can work out the timetable, but not saying anything doesn't preclude your child from studying a modern language; it's just you won't have given a preference.

Farahilda · 01/07/2014 23:40

Did they tell you what language she's been assigned alongside Latin?

sunbathe · 01/07/2014 23:33

So she gets to do a ml anyway, as well as Latin?

And can then change the ml a year later and drop Latin in favour of another ml?

It doesn't sound so bad, tbh. Have I misunderstood?

Hakluyt · 01/07/2014 23:30

You say the language will be taught alongside Latin- so she will do Latin whatever. So what modern foreign languages are on offer? Usually it's Spanish, French or German- doesn't really matter which one she does. So stop panicking!

gymboywalton · 01/07/2014 23:30

Well do you have a specific reason for wanting her to study a certain language? I imagine it means things like ...if your child is bilingual and fluent in a language iyswim??

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