Modern foreign languages project pulls in more schools
A scheme aimed at tackling the ‘serious decline’ in the take up of modern foreign languages by school pupils in Wales has substantially increased the number of project schools it will be working with into its second year, from 28 to 44. Initially a pilot, the major intervention is aimed at increasing the take up and attainment of modern languages at secondary schools across the country. It is funded by the Welsh Government as part of its five-year Global Futures strategy aimed at supporting modern languages in schools in Wales. Under the scheme, modern foreign language (MFL) undergraduates at Cardiff, Swansea, Bangor and Aberystwyth universities are recruited and trained as student mentors and are partnered with pupils in local schools. Each undergraduate undergoes a rigorous assessment process and training with specialists in student mentoring. They are partnered with committed schools in the areas surrounding their university in close collaboration with regional educational consort...