Shaftesbury Park primary school in Battersea goes bilingual

Shaftesbury Park is to become the borough's third bilingual school.

The Battersea primary school is joining Wix and Putney's Hotham School in introducing a French bilingual stream.

Wandsworth has pioneered the introduction of bilingual schools as a means of maintaining high academic standards and giving younger children the chance to learn a language.

Shaftesbury Park will start its first bilingual class in September 2013. The reception class of up to 30 students will work closely with the other reception class so that all children get the opportunity to communicate in French.

The school will continue to follow guidance from the National Curriculum, with delivery in both French and English. Initial reading and writing teaching will be in English, with formalised French literacy introduced at a slightly later time. Teaching children about the culture of France and forming strong links with the country will also be a priority.

The school is currently preparing for the changes, and is getting advice and support from the head of Wix, Marc Wolstencroft, who has been running a bilingual school since 2006. The French Embassy are also supportive of the proposed plans and the council will develop the school building to accommodate the extra pupils.

Head teacher of Shaftesbury Park , Bunmi Richards, said

'This is an exciting and unique opportunity, which will enable us to provide development of language and knowledge about another culture for our local community and learners. This initiative will be beneficial for all learners at the school, not just those children who are in the bilingual classes and we look forward to replicating the successes of other bilingual settings.'

Cabinet member for education and children's services, Cllr Kathy Tracey, said the council was keen to offer parents choices in education and was responding to the call for children to learn a foreign language at a younger age.

"Our experiences at Wix and Hotham have proved that introducing a bilingual stream benefits the school across the board. Teaching much of the curriculum in French, and using the language around the school and during play, means it is introduced in a more natural way. It gives the children a huge advantage when they enter employment if they are familiar with another language and culture."

The council is currently consulting on the introduction of the bilingual stream and subsequent changes to the admission arrangements. Find out more at www.wandsworth.gov.uk/admissions/consultation.

School staff are also happy to chat to parents about the changes. Ring (020) 7228 3652 or email bilingual@shaftesburypark.wandsworth.sch.uk.