"Learning other languages enables children and young people to make connections with different people and their cultures and to play a fuller part as global citizens” Building the Curriculum,2006

We believe that learning foreign languages is a valuable educational, social and cultural experience for all our pupils. Through the teaching and learning of Modern Foreign Languages at Colliers Green we seek to develop the ‘four skills’ of speaking, listening, reading and writing. 

In studying a modern language, pupils are encouraged to: 

1. value intellectual development, 
2. appreciate different cultures and to 
3. ​enhance their ability to communicate.

Learning languages supports our three school values:

• Aspiration: loving the world by showing an interest in its diversity
• Resilience: loving yourself by giving something new a go and not worrying about making mistakes
• Community: loving each other by learning about the rich diversity of languages and cultures within our own school and community

As a school we have chosen to study French as the core language throughout the school with weekly lessons in Key Stage 2 with more informal exposure in the first three years.

• to foster an interest in language learning by introducing children to other languages in a way that is enjoyable and accessible to all pupils
• to stimulate and encourage children’s curiosity about language and creativity in experimenting with it
• to support the wider curriculum by developing independent questioning learners
• to help children develop their awareness of cultural similarities and differences
• to lay the foundations for future language study by pupils
• to provide an added perspective on first language teaching and learning
• to give an extra dimension to teaching and learning across the curriculum
• to encourage a 'give it a go' attitude to communicating in a foreign language
• to celebrate ethnic diversity within our school and community 

Maximum Classics is a scheme and set of digital resources that teaches the Latin language in a way that enhances English literacy, both in its choice of vocabulary and grammar covered. It consists of sixteen Units, each with a particular grammar focus. It is designed to be teachable by non-specialist teachers and accessible by all abilities of student. 

One of the main benefits of teaching Latin as a KS2 language is its useful interplay with English grammar and vocabulary. Maximum Classics’ introductory unit explores the history behind English’s links to Latin and Ancient Greek. Vocabulary used on the course is selected to facilitate the exploration of interplay between Latin and English vocabulary and every lesson incorporates games or activities drawing on this. The course also tracks KS2 elements such as word class, tense and auxiliary verbs using the same terminology used in English SPaG teaching.

Learning Latin as a KS2 language puts students in a strong position to start KS3 as competent and confident language learners. The Maximum Classics courses:

• introduce the notion of different linguistic methods for conveying meaning

• explore the paradigm of inflected language

• use vocabulary that is at the foundation of romance languages such as French, Spanish and Italian

• encourage the learning, retention and manipulation of vocabulary

• explore links and relationships between languages

• introduce grammatical concepts such as the infinitive, impersonal verbs and personal endings

• situate language learning within a distinct and different culture

All of these are skills that will stand students in good stead for whichever language they learn at secondary level (and beyond). The final unit of Maximum Classics is also designed to cover aspects of various KS3 subjects, to help students get a ‘head start’ across the curriculum.