1. Assessment issues in MFL in secondary schools: current situation and new developments – The Languages Ladder Steps to Success Kate Green, Project Director, The Languages Ladder

2. Assessment arrangements Pupils are formally assessed in core subjects at ages 7,11 & 14 Attainment in wider range of subjects is reported at age 14 (teacher-assessed) Pupils take a suite of national qualifications at age 16 (GCSE/ Applied GCSE) Pupils choose a smaller range of specialist subjects post-16 (GCE/AVCE) or follow a specialist vocational course (BTEC National)

3. The National Qualifications Framework Levels 7 & 8Postgraduate/Masters Levels 4 - 6Undergraduate Level 3Advanced Level 2Intermediate Level 1Foundation Entry Level

4. The School Curriculum There is a core programme from 5 – 14; the study of a foreign language – usually French, German or Spanish is compulsory from 11 -14 In the UK about 40% of primary school pupils have some experience of learning a language From 2004, for the 14 – 16 phase students have a wider choice of subjects - there is entitlement to a course in Arts, Humanities, Modern Foreign Languages & Technology

5. MFL assessment ks3: teacher-assessed level, combining assessments of Listening, Speaking, Reading & Writing ks4 : GCSE – externally assessed - 25% for each of the 4 skills, either Speaking or Writing may be internally assessed & then externally moderated ks5: GCE AS/A – 6 units (3+3) externally assessed, covers all 4 skills but some papers may be combined skills

6. The National Languages Strategy: Languages for All: Languages for Life Lifelong skill To be used for business and pleasure Open avenues of communication and exploration Instil broader cultural understanding An essential part of being a citizen

7. Languages for All: Languages for Life Three overarching objectives: To improve teaching and learning of languages To introduce a recognition system To increase the numbers of people studying languages

8. The Primary Entitlement Every child should have the opportunity throughout key stage 2 to study a foreign language ….. By age 11 they should have the opportunity to reach a recognised level of competence on the Common European Framework and for that achievement to be recognised through a national scheme. National Languages Strategy

9. A new paradigm KS2 Framework KS3 Framework SpecialistVocationalPersonal14+ 11-14 7-11

10. The Languages Ladder is The National Recognition Scheme for Languages One of the three overarching aims of The National Languages Strategy Designed to endorse achievement in language skills at all levels of competence for all ages in a wide range of languages

11. The Languages Ladder Steps to Success Made up of 6 stages: Breakthroughgrades 1 - 3 (Entry level) Preliminarygrades 4 - 6 (Level 1) Intermediategrades 7 - 9 (Level 2) Advancedgrades 10 – 12 (Level 3) Proficiencygrades 13 – 15 (Levels 4 – 6) Masterygrades 16 & 17 (Levels 7 & 8)

12. The Languages Ladder Steps to Success principles Cando descriptors for each skill at each grade Assessment of individual language skills Assessment available when the learner is ready Assessment as an endorsement of achievement not as an end of course hurdle

13. The Languages Ladder Steps to Success assessment models: Using The Languages Ladder cando statements for formative, self & peer assessment Success criteria, no accreditation outcome

14. The Languages Ladder Steps to Success assessment models: Using the teacher-assessed model which leads to a UCLES Grade Award for any skill at any grade Accredited national certification through an awarding body, not NQF qualification

15. The Languages Ladder Steps to Success assessment models: Using the UCLES Asset Languages external tests which lead to a NQF qualification, available at each stage, in all 4 language skills External qualification within the NQF with performance table points

16. Timetable for development Autumn 2004 UCLES: Pretesting programme & Pilot in French, German & Spanish at Breakthrough, Preliminary & Intermediate stages Autumn 2005 National rollout at first 3 stages in 8 initial languages : French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Panjabi & Urdu

17. Timetable for development Autumn 2006 Additional languages within the first 3 stages - likely to be: Arabic, Bengali, Gaeilge/Irish, Gujarati, Hindi, Modern Greek, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Swedish, Tamil, Turkish, Welsh and Yoruba. Advanced (stage 4) to be available in at least 3 pilot languages

18. Timetable for development Autumn 2007 Advanced (stage 4) available in wider range of languages & additional languages available at stages 1 – 3 Autumn 2008 Development of Proficiency & Mastery (stages 5 & 6) & capacity for additional languages to be added at previous stages.

19. The Languages Ladder Steps to Success contact: kate.green@dfes.gsi.gov.uk www.dfes.gov.uk/languages