Modern Foreign Languages at Stringer
We believe that learning a foreign language is an important asset in a shrinking world of international trade and travel, and exposes learners in a positive way to cultures other than their own.
Which languages are studied at Dorothy Stringer?
Pupils study French in Year 7. In years 8 and 9, those pupils who we feel are capable of studying more than one language (about 80% of pupils) study French and German, or French and Spanish (dependant on year of entry to the school). Those pupils for whom we feel that one foreign language is enough continue their study of French.
What is different about languages provision at Dorothy Stringer?
In a highly successful initiative, the most able 35% of pupils in years 8 and 9 are "fast-tracked" so that they take their French GCSE two years early (at the end of year 9).
Bilingual Pupils
If a child is bilingual and if they wish to have a qualification in a particular language, we will organise for them
to do a GCSE. So far, we have had GCSEs in the following languages:
- Greek
- Turkish
- Italian
- Spanish
- Farsi
- Portuguese
- Mandarin
- Russian
- Urdu
- Polish
- Thai
Special Educational Needs
The MFL department values the school's dedication to providing for pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN). It fully supports the policies and work of the school’s Learning Support Department.
We recognise that every teacher is a teacher of children with special needs and we make every effort to provide a curriculum in which every pupil can achieve to the best of his/her ability.
The department has always been represented by a link teacher on the school's SEN Committee and a link teacher for Gifted and Talented.
Professional development in the teaching of children with specific learning and behavioural difficulties occurs through:
- Department INSET
- School based INSET
- Liaison with the Learning Support Department. (This includes discussing strategies to teach pupils with specific learning or behavioural difficulties and organising the release of pupils from language lessons in order that they can participate in the school's literacy programme)
- Attendance at external INSET meetings