Community languages provision in Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton local education authority (LEA) provides community languages classes in six languages: Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kurdish, Panjabi and Urdu for approximately 800 pupils in eighteen centres. The provision is made around the city to teach these languages on Saturday mornings from 10am till 12noon.

Five secondary schools also offer Panjabi and Urdu as a foreign language in Key stage 4, three of these schools offer AS/A level Panjabi and one offers AS/A level Urdu as well.

In the mainstream schools, there are about 250 students studying Panjabi and Urdu at GCSE and AS/A level. There is a well establish tradition of achieving above the national average results in terms of A*-C grades. AS/A level results are exemplary 80%A-C grades in Panjabi and 100% A-C in Urdu.

Community Languages Project

Community Languages Project achieved a “European Award for Languages” for its best practice in teaching and learning of these languages in 2001. Our work has been featured in a wide range of national documents as examples of good practice, these include, Nuffield Language Enquiry, National Language Strategy for England, Latest Guidelines for teaching Foreign Languages at Key Stage 4 published recently by QCA.

Community Languages Project work is appreciated beyond Wolverhampton; its good practice is disseminated widely and we are taking the lead to deliver CPD for the teachers of Community Languages in the Black Country and beyond. One of the recently organised event was AS/A level Panjabi day which took place on 7th May 2005 and was attended by 80 students and 15 teachers. The delegates both students and teachers praised the day as they gained a lot in terms of teaching and learning resources and support to raise the attainment of students.

The project staff have produced a wide range of resources to teach these languages. These resources are not only used in teaching which takes place in Wolverhampton but marketed nationally. Our best selling ‘A Practical Guide to GCSE Panjabi’ has sold out its first two editions. 

Contacts

Naresh Chandla

Assistant Headteacher (Community Languages)

Phone: (01902) 555239
E-mail: naresh.chandla@wolverhampton.gov.uk