Courses & Events

We offered a wide range of continuing professional development courses

Past events

S01 Leading languages, raising achievement

Date: December 16, 2010
Location: Leeds Metropolitan University, Headingley Carnegie Stand 104
Event type: Workshop

Contact us

Any questions about this event? Please email linksyorksandhumber@hull.ac.uk or call 01482 462091.

Summary

Languages have undergone a period of unprecedented change over the last decade, from an era where GCSE languages were compulsory to the current time in which students are faced with a whole host of options at the age of 14. The role of the subject leader can be a difficult one, juggling the needs of pupils and managing a department whilst doing everything possible to recruit learners for Key Stage 4.

There are two modules to this course:

Making the case for languages and understanding key issues: Tracking data and performance indicators
Developing your role

In this course delegates will discover how to make the case for languages across the whole school and beyond. Delegates will take away a whole host of ideas to promote languages to pupils and colleagues, plus a variety of resources to help them make the case. Delegates will also have time to think about the key ways in which they can help colleagues in your department get the learning right, something which is so vital to recruit learners beyond Key Stage 3. Delegates will also gain an overview of performance indicators for languages and have a chance to reflect on what difference these can make to improve the position of languages in your school. The attainment and engagement measures will be explained, and you will discover how GCSEs and alternative qualifications can contribute towards these.

You will be invited to consider how to develop the role of subject leader in the second part of the course, reflecting on what makes a leader, the skills needed to manage people and key levers for raising achievement, During the session you will consider what kind of leader you are and how you can become a more effective leader, as well as discussing what your priorities would be to raise achievement in your school. You will also find out more about the characters who make up a department and reflect on the ways in which different personalities can be managed.

The course will help you to:

reflect on the skills and qualities needed to run a successful languages department
you will leave with a whole host of ideas to promote languages to pupils and colleagues
plus a variety of resources to help you make the case for languages

Target audience

Subject leaders
Classroom teachers
Aspiring subject leaders / Heads of Department
Non-language colleges which are aiming to increase uptake for languages

Trainer: Mr. Geoff Swinn

This course will be delivered by Geoff Swinn. Geoff is former Deputy CEO and Director of Education and Skills at CILT, the National Centre for Languages. Previously Geoff was Languages Strategy Adviser for Sheffield Local Authority where he produced the City Languages Strategy. He supported MFL in schools, with particular emphasis on Primary Languages, as Sheffield was one of the DCSF Primary Pathfinders and he led this initiative. In addition, Geoff contributed to the 14-19 skills agenda and community languages developments; participated in improved programmes for schools requiring support; promoted good practice; liaised with key partners and stakeholders; represented Sheffield regionally and nationally; provided high-quality INSET for teachers and implemented national priorities for MFL.

Cost

In order to cover our direct costs, e.g. catering and speaker expenses, we charge £50 to attend this event.
Lunch and take-home resources will be provided.
Once you have registered to attend an event, you will be contacted by your regional Links administrator who will send you payment instructions.
Full details of our charging policy are available.