Fast tracking at Wyvern in MFL

Why fast tracking? Demotivation in year 11 Demotivation in year 11 Constant revisiting of topics of over 5 years Constant revisiting of topics of over 5 years Increased provision at KS2 Increased provision at KS2 Challenging students at KS3 to reach their potential Challenging students at KS3 to reach their potential Students able to build on early GCSE success to begin a new language at GCSE or go for AS level Students able to build on early GCSE success to begin a new language at GCSE or go for AS level

Selection of fast track students Year 7 Upper band students do focussed grammar work and past tenses. Year 7 Upper band students do focussed grammar work and past tenses. The top 120 students (4 groups) are fast tracked to GCSE in Year 9. The top 120 students (4 groups) are fast tracked to GCSE in Year 9. Selection is on KS2 SATs, CATs and MFL exam results in year 7 Selection is on KS2 SATs, CATs and MFL exam results in year 7

Course structure-French Speaking questions for GCSE oral given out at the beginning of Year 8 Speaking questions for GCSE oral given out at the beginning of Year 8 Producing language using complex sentences and several tenses at an early stage Producing language using complex sentences and several tenses at an early stage Coursework in year 9 Coursework in year 9 Exam technique Exam technique

Additional learning and support Fast track days Fast track days Exchanges Exchanges Special parents’ evening Special parents’ evening

What happens in KS4? AS level in first language AS level in first language GCSE in new language GCSE in new language

What results will students obtain? Results of a similar school (top 55 pupils) 100% A*-Cs 100% A*-Cs 3 A* 3 A* 15 A 15 A 28 B 28 B 9 C 9 C Results at Wyvern 2006 (top 58 pupils) 100% A*-Cs 100% A*-Cs 9 A* 9 A* 19 A 19 A 30 B 30 B

Overall results for year students entered for French and German 110 students entered for French and German A*-9 A*-9 A – 19 A – 19 B – 40 B – 40 C – 34 C – 34 D – 7 D – 7 E - 1 E students in year 9 gained a C+ grade in MFL 102 students in year 9 gained a C+ grade in MFL

Was there a difference between boys’ and girls’ results? Year 9 fast trackers %A*- C %A*-A Girls Boys All National 2006 %A*-C%A*-AGirls Boys All

Some comments from last year’s fast trackers “ When I came into my normal German class expecting another lesson learning a language I got a shock. My German teacher told us that we were now one of the first groups to do GCSE two years early! My first thought was “What? I’m never going to be able to cope with this?” But now I look back on that day and think there was nothing to worry about!

“I feel that I have really achieved something in my education, and that I can say that I have done a whole GCSE at 13 years old and will be doing AS Level at 15 years of age. I’m really glad that I have done this, because if I hadn’t I don’t think I would have taken German as an option, which would have been a real mistake because learning the language has been very enjoyable.”

Benefits for the MFL department Languages given a key role in the school in preparing students for GCSEs Languages given a key role in the school in preparing students for GCSEs All able students take GCSE in MFL All able students take GCSE in MFL Increased numbers taking part in exchanges Increased numbers taking part in exchanges Students (boys as well as girls) confident in their language skills Students (boys as well as girls) confident in their language skills Students attaining higher level of language than previously possible. Students attaining higher level of language than previously possible.

Benefits for the school Students given confidence in doing well in a GCSE in year 9 - good preparation for KS4 Students given confidence in doing well in a GCSE in year 9 - good preparation for KS4 Able students able to add extra value by taking AS levels. Able students able to add extra value by taking AS levels.