Language Colleges raise standards of achievement and the quality of teaching and learning in modern foreign languages for all learners. This acts as a catalyst for whole school improvement.
Language Colleges are active partners in a learning society and share resources and good practice with local schools, colleges, higher education institutions, business and community. 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 by encouraging 'languages for all: languages for life'.
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 learners, and provide young people with the skills needed to progress into employment, further training or higher education according to their individual needs.
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.
Language Colleges are expected to develop a visible Language College character that is understood by learners, parents and the community. They are outward looking schools which prepare learners 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 learners and active promotion of take-up of the new Key Stage 4 entitlement including in partner schools. See the Teachernet modern foreign languages page for more information.
Increase the take-up of languages at all levels, including post-16.
Offer a diverse range of languages and provide opportunities for learners to learn and gain certification in their community languages.
Encourage a high status for language learning which permeates the whole school curriculum.
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 literacy links to facilitate transferable language skills.
Use ICT and multimedia to aid the development of virtual language communities and provide other enrichment experiences.
Develop partnerships with schools abroad, promote an international ethos that values different cultures and participate in international programmes, for example through the British Council. The SST can also help to facilitate overseas links and opportunities.
