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11/03/2005
Government announces boost for foreign language learning
A £115 million boost to support language learning and teaching has been announced by Education Secretary Ruth Kelly.
The Education Secretary announced plans to recruit 6,000 specialist language teachers for primary schools over the next three years, as well as provide training to 18,000 existing primary school teachers and 9,000 teaching assistants.
The investment also aims to boost the number of schools specialising in languages by providing a specialist grant worth £30,000 to schools wishing to specialise in languages, as well as existing specialist language schools and those who want to take a second specialism in languages.
Mrs Kelly also announced plans to provide funding for the development of vocational courses in business languages and encouragment of international links, through methods such as school twinning and teacher exchange programmes.
Mrs Kelly emphasised the government's commitment to encouraging pupils to learn foreign languages. Figures released in a statement from the Department of Education and Skills, showed that 44% of primary schools already offer some form of language learning, such as in lunchtime classes, compared to 20% in 2001.
The Department also said that 15,000 more pupils obtained a good GCSE grade in a modern foreign language than in 1997.
The government has pledged to enable every child aged between 7 – 11 to learn one or more langages as part of their curriculum at primary school by 2010. The government also pledged to have 400 specialist schools working with other local schools to teach languages within the same time period.
Commenting on the new funding boost, Mrs Kelly said: "Languages are vital for children in today's world. They open doors to new experiences, increase employment opportunities and break down cultural barriers. They also boost community cohesion and our economy's competitiveness. This investment will fund a major increase in language teachers to ensure that every child aged 7-11 will have the opportunity to study another language and develop their interest in the culture of other nations. This is crucial if more young people are to continue studying languages at secondary school level and beyond."
(KmcA)
The Education Secretary announced plans to recruit 6,000 specialist language teachers for primary schools over the next three years, as well as provide training to 18,000 existing primary school teachers and 9,000 teaching assistants.
The investment also aims to boost the number of schools specialising in languages by providing a specialist grant worth £30,000 to schools wishing to specialise in languages, as well as existing specialist language schools and those who want to take a second specialism in languages.
Mrs Kelly also announced plans to provide funding for the development of vocational courses in business languages and encouragment of international links, through methods such as school twinning and teacher exchange programmes.
Mrs Kelly emphasised the government's commitment to encouraging pupils to learn foreign languages. Figures released in a statement from the Department of Education and Skills, showed that 44% of primary schools already offer some form of language learning, such as in lunchtime classes, compared to 20% in 2001.
The Department also said that 15,000 more pupils obtained a good GCSE grade in a modern foreign language than in 1997.
The government has pledged to enable every child aged between 7 – 11 to learn one or more langages as part of their curriculum at primary school by 2010. The government also pledged to have 400 specialist schools working with other local schools to teach languages within the same time period.
Commenting on the new funding boost, Mrs Kelly said: "Languages are vital for children in today's world. They open doors to new experiences, increase employment opportunities and break down cultural barriers. They also boost community cohesion and our economy's competitiveness. This investment will fund a major increase in language teachers to ensure that every child aged 7-11 will have the opportunity to study another language and develop their interest in the culture of other nations. This is crucial if more young people are to continue studying languages at secondary school level and beyond."
(KmcA)
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16 February 2005
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29 January 2004
More schools gained 'specialist' status
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12 October 2005
Kelly announces billion pound cash boost for schools
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Kelly announces billion pound cash boost for schools
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14 April 2005
Conservatives pledge return to 'traditional' teaching methods
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Conservatives pledge return to 'traditional' teaching methods
Michael Howard has pledged a return to traditional teaching methods, using phonics to teach children how to read and write. Speaking during an election campaign conference in London, the Conservative leader said that the methods would help to ensure that children of immigrants learnt how to speak English.
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