The official version of this document can be found via the PDF button.
The below content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost, therefore it should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments.
29
WQ.97/2019
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION BY DEPUTY M. TADIER OF ST. BRELADE
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 12th FEBRUARY 2019
Question
Would the Minister consider the reintroduction of at least one modern foreign language as a compulsory subject until GCSE as part of the standard curriculum in all States schools? If not, why not?
Will the Minister provide an estimate of what extra resourcing, if any, would be required, were such a requirement to be made?
Answer
The 2015 – 19 Business plan stated its aspiration for a modern foreign language (MFL) qualification to be part of every students GCSE portfolio in the long term. As a first step towards this aspiration the department have supported the effective teaching of French in primary schools, as detailed in the Jersey Curriculum, and have trialled an intensive French programme in some schools as well as employing a lead French teacher since September 2017. The Minister supports the study of modern foreign languages and further detail will follow with the publication of the next Departmental Business Plan.
The annual cost to fully support the French Experience in all Jersey primary schools would be £132,000 per annum. This would ensure that every child is given the opportunity to study French up to entry level for GCSE whilst in primary school. This would then enable pupils at secondary school to complete their study of French to an effective and independent conversational and written standard, or to transfer that skill and knowledge to another language such as Spanish, German, Portuguese or Polish. This funding would also ensure ongoing termly training and development for teachers of French in primary schools and a coordinated relationship for Jersey schools with French schools in Normandy, as well as support for MFL teaching in secondary schools, under the guidance of the Lead French teacher.