In September 2007, Cleeve was achieved the International School Award. In conjunction with our status as a language college allows the school to focus on new developments in the teaching of languages, whilst extending opportunities to work with the wider community. As a result, we have used the status to increase our language provision and now provide Chinese as a second language to our most able Year 7 and 8 students, Spanish to KS4 and Russian and Chinese to our KS5 students.

At KS4 our most able students are currently being fast tracked in French in Y10 so that they can do a second GCSE in Spanish in Y11. The opportunity to study both French and Spanish to GCSE results in a deeper understanding of language learning and the relevant cultures. Starter sessions in Arabic have also been offered as part of our community links with GCHQ and the profile of language learning has been raised through a range of events including Chinese and Spanish cultural evenings and a European cookery event.

Language College Status has allowed Cleeve to develop links with primary schools to improve language ability and to extend the most able. Cleeve teachers are currently working with 5 primary partners this input at KS2 has improved students entry into languages in Cleeve and has helped us to introduce early setting in Languages in Year 7. Pupils from year 5 and 6 at Woodmancote recently enjoyed a performance of “Parlez-vous français?” at our languages festival in February. Secondary partnerships have also been developed through the status and involve language support at 2 partner schools. We also have links with schools in the Guangdong province in China, and we are setting up video conferencing with a school in northern France.

At Cleeve, we are also fortunate to have links with the community such as training sessions in French with Gloucester rugby club for our year 8 and 9 boys, and also visitors from local businesses coming in to share their knowledge. In addition, we have links with Bristol UWE and have had pupils involved in work experience with In-Lingua in Cheltenham.

(Left) Year 9 Students after a Buisiness talk with Mr. Hull from Toshiba.

(Right) Year 8 Students at a French rugby training session with Gloucester rugby team.

GO BACK