Vision
Language Colleges raise standards of achievement and the quality of teaching and learning in modern foreign languages for all pupils using this as a catalyst for whole school improvement.
They are active partners in a learning society with their local family of schools, colleges, higher education institutions, business and their community, sharing resources and developing and sharing good practice. They help children to progress from primary language learning through to lifelong learning.
Language Colleges play a key role in supporting the National Languages Strategy, which aims to transform the country’s capability in languages, encouraging “languages for life” and “languages for all”.
They promote a learning culture which is international, technological, enterprising and vocational, and which values language learning as an activity and regards performance with languages as a key skill for UK citizens of the 21st century.
They value and support the community languages of their pupils, and provide young people with the skills needed to progress into employment, further training or higher education according to their individual needs.
They raise participation rates in modern foreign languages, and enhance language learning opportunities for their pupils and for their local learning community.
As leading practitioners they share their growing expertise with other Language Colleges and with national and international networks of schools to promote excellence and innovation.
Ethos and key characteristics
Language Colleges are expected to develop a visible Language College character that is understood by pupils, parents and the community. They are outward looking schools which prepare students to be global citizens.
Language Colleges will:
- Take a leading role in the promotion of the National Languages Strategy, including support for the delivery of an entitlement to language learning for primary pupils and active promotion of take-up of the new Key Stage 4 entitlement including in partner schools - see www.dcsf.gov.uk/languages for more information.
- Increase the take-up of languges at all levels including post-16, offering a diverse range of languages and providing opportunities for pupils where possible/appropriate to learn and gain certification in their community languages.
- Encourage a high status for language learning which permeates the whole school curriculum; and raise awareness of the importance of languages to careers through business links, vocational courses and work-related opportunities.
- Develop innovative models for the teaching, learning and accreditation of languages, for example, through the Languages Ladder and develop languages and literacy links to facilitate transferable language skills.
- Use ICT/multimedia to aid the development of Virtual Language Communities and provide other enrichment experiences for students to extend their language competence.
- Develop partnerships with schools abroad, promoting an international ethos that values different cultures and participate in international progarmmes via e.g. the British Council. The SST can also help to facilitate overseas links and opportunities.
Specialist subjects
Language Colleges will focus on modern foreign languages.
Further information
216 schools in England have been designated as specialist Language Colleges. In addition, a further 12 schools have been designated in combined specialisms which include languages and 11 schools have languages as a second specialism.
Click here for detailed application guidance.
Click here for a list of all Languages Colleges (Excel - 80 KB)
Major investment for modern foreign language learning
11th March 2005
The prospect of every primary school child learning another language such as French, Spanish, or German moved a step closer today as Education Secretary Ruth Kelly announced a £115 million boost to support language learning and teaching over the next three years.
For further information on this please click here
A press notice is availble on the DCSF website
Email any queries to (please put the title 'languages' in the heading) : specialist.schools@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
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