Language College
Summerhill School was designated a Specialist Language College in September 2003. This means that the Specialist Schools' Trust shares our view of the importance of language learning in raising achievement and broadening the opportunities and experiences on offer to our students and the local community.
We aim to equip our students with the skills and knowledge that they will need in order to address their personal needs and become active citizens in the 21st century global context. We aim to promote and value language learning, and to improve inter-cultural knowledge by introducing an international aspect to students' studies in all curriculum areas.
Within Summerhill School, students have the opportunity to study two languages in Key Stage 3 from French, German and Spanish, according to their experience in primary schools. In Key Stage 4 all students study at least one language to GCSE level, and have the opportunity to study two, or even three with the option of after-hours courses. Additionally, all students in Key Stage 4 study one language from Spanish, Italian, Russian and Japanese to Certificate of Business Language Competence. Talented linguists have the opportunity to take AS level French or German in Year 11 after GCSE in Year 10.
We have three language assistants, for French, German and Spanish, which ensures that all students have the opportunity to converse with a native speaker. In 2005/2006 we hosted a Japanese visitor who offered us a cross-curricular international input. We also host 6 guests from various countries through the year.
We are teaching French or German each week at 6 of our feeder primary schools to Year 5 and Year 6, to raise standards in Modern Foreign Languages by beginning earlier. This fosters links between primary and secondary school and gives the students greater confidence when they come to Summerhill.
We have links with schools in the North of Germany and Biarritz in the South of France with which we have exchange and cross-curricular project programmes. These offer more opportunities for authentic linguistic and cultural experiences. In 2006 there was an exchange visit to Biarritz in France. This will be repeated in 2007. We are also developing links further afield, with Chile and Japan.
There are opportunities for participation in out-of hours language-learning activities, which Summerhill offers in conjunction with our local community partners. There are extension classes in French and German for talented linguists in Year 9 and those coming up to GCSE examinations. In the Spring term there are revision workshops for those students who are taking GCSE examinations in French and German.
Talented linguists have the opportunity to participate in the "Amikaro" project, which is a series of intensive evening tutorials held at Summerhill with students from other schools, leading to the Certificate of Business Language Competence in a range of languages.
