Junior CULP: the national perspective (10 July 07)

Programme | Event report

Past event summary

The recently published Dearing Report emphasised the need for a diverse and flexible language provision. One of the specific Projects that the Report makes reference to is Junior CULP.

Winner of a European Award for Languages for innovation in teaching and learning in 2006, the Junior CULP project was designed to offer a flexible, scalable, replicable and sustainable model of language provision in order to bridge the gap in 14+ language provision and help specifically those who are less motivated to continue studying languages at KS4.

The Project has adapted Cambridge University Language Centre’s methodology of learner support, delivered through an integration of face-to-face teaching support and online learning.

The aim of this seminar was to disseminate awareness of Junior CULP to a wider HE audience highlighting the advantages of this scheme so it can serve as a model for a nationwide network for the provision of language study additional to that normally available in schools.

Speakers included

• Kate Pretty, Principal of Homerton College and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for International Strategy Chair of the Working with Schools Committee, University of Cambridge
• Lid King, National Director of Languages, Department for Education and Skills
• Kate Green, Project Director, Languages Ladder, Department for Education and Skills
• Adrian Ash, 14-19 Adviser, CILT, the National Centre for Languages
• Vicky Wright, Director, Centre for Language Study, University of Southampton
• Nebojša Radic, Senior Language Adviser & Director of CULP, University of Cambridge
• Anny King, Director, Language Centre, University of Cambridge
• Heads of Languages, from Cambridgeshire secondary schools

Event report: Junior CULP: the national perspective

by David Newton

The joint CILT/LLAS event, held in association with Cambridge University Language Centre and with additional funding from CILT’s 14-19 network was aimed at HEIs expressing an interest in taking the Junior CULP model for local replication in their own communities.

The day began with a review of the past and summary of the current, post-Dearing situation from Lid King, National Director of Languages at the Department for Children, Schools and Families. This was followed by a short summary (from Anny King and Nebojša Radic) of how Junior CULP was implemented in Cambridgeshire.

The next session involved presentations from a number of Heads of Languages from Cambridgeshire schools who had kindly agreed to come and explain how Junior CULP worked from the schools’ perspective.

Following a lively networking lunch, during which delegates were formally welcomed to the event by Kate Pretty, Principal of Homerton College, the afternoon began with a rundown of how schools and HEIs can and do work together. This was presented by Vicky Wright of the University of Southampton and Adrian Ash of CILT’s 14-19 network.

The delegates then formed into breakout groups of about half a dozen each, during which they carried out a SWOT analysis and discussed what issues they could envisage arising and how they would tackle these if they were actually setting up such a scheme. Following these facilitated working groups, each nominated a rapporteur who summarised the group’s thoughts.

The day was, on the whole, very successful, with most of the forty or so delegates saying they were seriously considering implementing such a scheme in their own area.

Comments received in the feedback evaluation questionnaire included:

“The context of the Dearing Languages Review provided a very helpful starting point as I’m new to a role in schools liaison. Hearing from the teachers about the scheme in practice was also very helpful and inspiring”

“Excellent way of providing intensive language learning opportunity for pupils in schools. It was a very interesting and enjoyable day and I was fortunate to exchange ideas with some very good people as well as listening to the presentations”

“Thank you for such an informative and stimulating day. It was a thoroughly informative, focussed and enjoyable day and I appreciated the opportunity to talk to colleagues from other universities and from schools. I’ve come away with a lot of ideas to discuss with colleagues here at my own university”

“Many thanks for organising such an interesting day and for bringing such a useful range of people together. Thanks for all your work in organising the event”