UCML Executive Meeting: 24 October 2014
Report from Wales
Since my recent election as Wales representative on the UCML Executive committee, I have
contacted the seven Welsh HE institutions (Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff, Cardiff Metropolitan,
Glyndwr, South Wales and Swansea) as well as the Open University in Wales, CILT Cymru and
Routes into Languages Cymru. I have informed them of the change of Representative for Wales
and updated our list of contacts.
CILT Cymru (Nia Gwyn Jones)
Despite recent, dramatic cuts in Welsh Government funding for CILT Cymru, the national centre for
languages in Wales, the organisation continues to support secondary schools to increase uptake of
MFL accredited courses of study from Key Stage 4 (14-19).
Since April, we have developed partnerships with all four, newly established regional educational
Consortia in Wales, which will enable our small team to target needs and priority areas identified
by the regions. These partnerships will also enable us to develop a more cohesive, sustainable
approach as we disseminate effective, innovative teaching and learning practice and resources.
Our prime objectives continue to be to promote a greater national capability in languages, to raise
numbers of pupils studying accredited courses in a modern foreign language at 14-19 in schools in
Wales and to support the work of all those concerned with language teaching and learning within
all sectors of education. We do this through offering / facilitating:
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Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for teachers in Wales in partnership with
Consortia, regional Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and through Language
Wales, our annual National Conference.
Specialist advice and support for Consortia, schools and colleges through our regional
PLCs, teacher working groups and school 'Compact' scheme.
Advice on alternative accreditation to GCSEs including NVQ business languages and QCF
language units.
School-business partnerships and projects which aim to raise awareness of the value of
language skills in the workplace amongst learners.
Resources and careers focused advice for schools to help promote the value of MFL skills /
qualifications amongst pupils and parents (in partnership with Routes into Languages
Cymru and WJEC).
Termly ebulletin with latest news, events and useful links for language teachers.
Website with case studies, resources, training opportunities and news:
www.ciltcymru.org.uk
We are eagerly awaiting news of any recommendations relating to MFL in the curriculum in Wales
and Professor Graham Donaldson, the lead on the curriculum review on behalf of Welsh
Government, is due to submit any recommendations at the turn of the year. Furthermore, following
the recent qualifications review, GCSE and A Level qualifications are also to be amended here in
Wales. Therefore, in view of potentially significant changes to languages qualifications and the
curriculum as a whole in Wales, I only today presented a three point proposal / consideration plan
to Welsh Government officials which I also intend to present to Huw Lewis, the Welsh Education
Minister (please see below).
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CILT Cymru
3 proposals / considerations for supporting pupil uptake of accredited courses
in Modern Foreign Languages in Key Stage 4 and beyond
“Learning a language can literally open up a world of experiences – we want our children to
be able to flourish globally, to be able to take every opportunity, personal or professional,
that comes their way.” Huw Lewis, Minister for Education and Skills
The Minister’s statement would seem to echo our view that foreign language courses of study
should not just provide opportunities to develop these skills amongst a minority of pupils and
should therefore cater for a wider range of learning pathways.
1. Therefore, in view of upcoming changes to qualifications in Wales, we urge the Minister to
give serious consideration to ensuring that all schools in Wales are able to provide
valuable routes for MFL study at 14-19 in future. These options should include the
traditional GCSE and A Level courses as well as alternative “applied” courses of study,
which focus on foreign language skills for the workplace and business.
We believe that subsequently, and in order to ensure that all young people in Wales are
given every opportunity to “flourish globally”, all schools in Wales should be required to
offer varied routes of MFL study as part of their Key Stage 4 curriculum offer and that
further opportunities for progression are offered post 16.
CILT Cymru already has the expertise to develop such courses of study in partnership with
WJEC and with appropriate funding, can provide expert front line support and training to
practitioners.
2. Whilst we support and understand the need for divergence from England in the Education
Strategy for Wales, we urge the Minister to seriously consider the implications of recent
developments in England; making MFL study a statutory requirement in Key Stage 2 and
subsequent changes to GCSE qualifications which reflect this early start. We must ensure
that MFL qualifications in Wales are still considered as robust and equivalent in standard
and challenge to those currently being developed in England. We must, above all, ensure
that pupils in Wales are not disadvantaged when opting for similar MFL qualifications in
Wales and go on to compete for places in our top Universities.
“If Wales is going to compete in the global economy, then we have to have a sustainable
system where government, employers and individuals all take shared responsibility for
skills.” Ken Skates, former Deputy for Skills and Technology
3. In view of the recent, dramatic cut in Welsh Government funding for CILT Cymru activity,
we urge the Minister to, at the very least, ensure that our current level of funding is
guaranteed for a minimum of 3 years. This will enable us to develop a long term,
sustainable strategy to improve and support pupil uptake of MFL courses of study post 14
in partnership with Welsh Government as well as our other key stakeholders. We strongly
believe that this strategy has the potential to be an integral part of the wider Qualified for
Life Strategy as well as feed into the Skills Implementation Plan.
Nia Gwyn Jones, CILT Cymru Manager
Routes into Languages Cymru (Ellie Jones)
Routes into Languages Cymru has entered its sixth year of activities, although is no longer a
HEFCW funded project. After supporting Routes Cymru for 5 years, HEFCW were no longer in a
position to continue with this financial commitment. Routes Cymru is now funded by 4 partner
HEIs: Cardiff University; Bangor University; Aberystwyth University and Cardiff Metropolitan
University.
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The small team are once again running a full programme of outreach activities on behalf of the
partner HEIs. These include:
Student Language Ambassadors
Pupil Language Ambassadors
Adopt a Class
The Spelling Bee
Language and Culture Masterclasses
Events for parents
This year, Routes Cymru will be piloting a new initiative called Optilingua. They will be working very
closely with 5 schools, offering increased support from SLAs and encouraging them to participate
in all relevant Routes Cymru activities. It is hoped that the Optilingua mark will raise the profile of
languages within each of these schools which in turn will increase the numbers opting for
languages for GCSE and A Level.
With a focus on student experience and employability, Routes Cymru are working with the Careers
Services at Cardiff and Bangor to try to incorporate the work of the SLAs into the university-wide
awards. At Cardiff University, a new Global Award will be piloted this year with Routes Cymru
SLAs.
Finally, Routes Cymru are having to devote some resources into income generation and the team
are currently researching new sources of funding which could allow aspects of their work to
continue post this academic year.
Catherine Chabert 22/10/2014
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