Languages
Modern languages - achievement and challenge
2007-2010
(Ofsted, January 2011)
Report examining progress in language teaching in schools, made
since the publication in 2008 of ‘The changing landscape of
languages: an evaluation of language learning 2004/2007’.
The report is based on findings from visits to 92 primary and 90
secondary schools, conducted between 2007 and 2010. Schools were
from both rural and urban locations. It also draws on primary
inspection reports and reports from five FE and 6th Form college
inspections in 2009-10.
Part A focuses on primary languages: achievement,
teaching and learning, quality of curriculum and leadership and
progress towards entitlement. It finds good progress in this
phase, for instance the quality of teaching was found to be
good or outstanding in two thirds of 235 lessons observed; and
outstanding in seven schools. Based on the findings,
recommendations are made for the DfE, LAs or clusters of schools,
primary and secondary schools.
The changing landscape of languages
(Ofsted, July 2008)
Ofsted report on language
teaching and learning in all educational phases and initial teacher
training between 2004 and 2007. Part B (pages 30-39) focuses on
primary languages and draws on findings from Ofsted’s 2005
evaluation of Key Stage 2 Pathfinders alongside reports from
inspections carried out in an additional 60 schools between 2005
and 2007.
Areas of evaluation include
provision, quality of teaching and learning, the impact of
languages on other areas of the curriculum, planning and resources,
with related recommendations for schools, LAs and government
organisations.
Implementing languages entitlement in primary schools: Evaluation
of Key Stage 2 Pathfinders
(Ofsted, July 2005)
Report evaluating progress in
ten primary languages Pathfinder authorities during 2004. The
Pathfinders were set up following the announcement of the National
Languages Strategy in order to trial Key Stage 2 languages and
develop models of provision.. Ofsted’s report looks at the quality
of leadership and management and its impact on pupils’ achievement,
as well as key aspects of provision such as staffing, training and
primary-secondary dialogue. Find out more about the Key
stage 2 Pathfinders at Primary languages research.
Want to know more about inspecting languages in primary
schools?
Education
Evaluation of the primary and secondary national
strategies
(Ofsted, February 2008)
Ofsted report evaluating the
impact of the primary and secondary national strategies, focusing
on progress since 2005 and the quality of transition from primary
to secondary school. Continuity of learning is a key consideration
as well as the role of Local Authority support for schools.
Initial teacher training
Every language matters: an evaluation of the extent and impact of
initial training to teach a wider range of
languages
(Ofsted, February 2008)
Report evaluating the
strengths and weaknesses of initial teacher training in languages
other than French, German, Irish, Spanish and Welsh. The survey
aimed to find out whether training through a
PGCE
route, which is
rarely accessible for potential teachers of community languages,
has a positive impact on the quality of teaching. It also aimed to
assess the quality of provision when alternative or no training
programmes exist for teachers.
Primary languages in initial teaching
training
(Ofsted, January 2008)
Ofsted report from a survey
evaluating quality in initial teacher training with regard to its
suitability for equipping trainees with the knowledge and skills to
implement the Key Stage 2 entitlement to languages in 2009/10.
Comparisons are made with their 2003 report
Primary modern foreign languages in initial teacher training
(Ofsted, November 2003)
Subject inspection reports
Ofsted subject and aspect
inspection reports give the findings from school inspections of
individual subjects. These are conducted in addition to
institutional inspections to enable particular subjects to be
evaluated in detail. Which subjects are inspected depends on the
programme of surveys agreed annually by Ofsted, DCSF and
DIUS
.
The most recent subject
inspection report for primary languages is
Ofsted
Subject Reports 2003/04 - Modern foreign languages in primary
schools
Previous years
Ofsted Subject Reports 2002/03 - Primary Modern foreign
languages
Ofsted Subject Reports 2000/01 - Primary Modern Foreign
Languages
Ofsted Subject Reports 1998/99 - Modern Foreign
Languages