held at the european school, culham, oxfordshire 12 june 2009
TRANSCRIPT
EUROPA CONFERENCE REPORT
CHANGING SCHOOLS FOR A CHANGING
EUROPE
HELD AT THE EUROPEAN SCHOOL, CULHAM,
OXFORDSHIRE
12 JUNE 2009
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INTRODUCTION
The English Trust for European Education (ETEE) focuses on European
bilingual learning and the European dimension across the whole age-
range of the school curriculum. We aim to bring together schools and
services which are engaged in CLIL (content and language integrated
learning) or considering its introduction, not just in England, but with
schools in other European countries where the practice is more
widespread. We want good practice to be celebrated, issues and
challenges to be shared.
This year’s annual conference was held in association with the European
School at Culham. Culham itself is preparing to open up to the UK
system its distinctive practice of CLIL for all pupils across the school
age-range and curriculum to the European Baccalaureate final
examination, and one aim of the conference was to facilitate this
outreach. The EC Commissioner for multilingualism, Dr Leonard Orban,
has strongly supported our initiative, and his conference message is
publicized on our website. ETEE is also most grateful to NPower and
Macmillan Education for their generous sponsorship, and to the new
Links into Languages, to SS Mary and John Primary School, Cowley, and
again to Macmillan Education for conference displays and information.
What follows is a summary report of the 2009 Day Conference. (A
separate report has been sent to participants in the pre-meeting on 11
June). From the annexed register of participants it will be seen how rich is
the variety of groups brought together from local, national and
international teachers, school leaders, researchers, parents, officials, and
professional organisations. ETEE looks forward to continuing
collaboration with these and many more who have expressed interest in
pursuing its objectives.
John Sayer
Conference Convenor for ETEE
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PROCEEDINGS
Conference members were welcomed and the programme introduced by
John Sayer on behalf of fellow-Trustees. reminding us that we had come
together to support schools and families where living in more than one
language is normal, natural and necessary, and this year with the
particular objectives of learning to live together in Europe as a common
ground from which to live and work in the world, and second to address
the question: how do we create the conditions for bilingual education,
how can you help us with your experience, and how can we help
ourselves out of our lamentable plight in England?
Trustees wished to acknowledge the invaluable work of our conference
secretary Martina Kaupp-Roberts, and a presentation was made by
Jackie Holderness, who would lead the conference through the day.
Plenary Session 1, Shaping a European curriculum as a window on the
world was introduced by the Director of the European School, Simon
Sharron, who welcomed the conference to Culham, and introduced our
lead speaker, Professor Steve Cowley, Director UK Atomic Energy
Authority, Culham.
Professor Cowley‟s riveting address
illustrated the topic by covering the
vital importance of the fundamental
fusion physics work being undertaken
at the Culham laboratories, at the
cutting edge of the world-wide search
for limitless, clean & safe energy
based on the process powering the sun.
This work required the rarest people
with the best brains from all over the
world. These people have to
communicate with one another and the
vehicle for this was “LANGUAGE”:
the staff must be bilingual.
Thus if the project is to succeed then
bilingual language learning must be
available and schools like the ESC at
Culham have to be retained & even expanded.
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The Culham laboratory already employs staff who took their EB at the ES Culham &
who now want to send their own children to the school to follow in their footsteps..
Multilingual schools thus fulfil a dual purpose in that they both provide the multi-
lingual staff that is so vital to these projects & they provide the UKAEA staff with
schooling suitable for their children so that they are enabled to come to Culham to
work.
On completion of his talk, Professor Cowley was deluged with questions since his
audience found his talk so important. He has kindly made available for conference
participants his PowerPoint presentation, accessible on ETEE website..
The School at Work.
Professor Cowley’s talk was followed by a series of classroom visits to see a
multilingual school in operation. The visits included Primary & Secondary classes
across language sections, including both mother-tongue & second-language lessons.
Delegates were impressed with the standard & languages abilities of the pupils &
their evident success & enjoyment. One of many such visits warmly reported was to a
Secondary Year 3 class. The pupils, who were mainly German & French aged 13/14,
were studying Shaw’s Pygmalion, and clearly showed their comprehension & read
their parts with very good accents & intonation.
Plenary Session 2: Language Policy Reform in England.
Kate Green, The Languages Company.
This year’s conference was fortunate to secure Kate Green to present the new national
languages strategy for England, on behalf of the newly-formed Languages Company,
which has grown out of the government’s modern foreign languages team to deliver
the new strategy.
Kate commented on the previous
patchy provision for the 11 -16
age group & their low capability
for learning a language. She
referred to the findings of the
report chaired by the late Lord
Dearing. A key objective of the
new strategy was to start
language teaching at a much
earlier age, at around age 7 for
the last four years of Primary
School with a managed
transition to secondary School.
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Recognition would be given to the primary aim of being able to communicate
successfully in the language. In addition to European languages, we must include the
other widely spoken languages such as Chinese.
Kate talked about “partial competencies” in the different areas of Listening, Speaking,
Reading & Writing in foreign languages. She stressed that different forms of
assessment would be provided, including new qualifications such as the International
Communication Diploma with its proposed 3 levels.
Kate emphasised that students & employers are enthusiastic for language learning & it
was important to foster this and build on its strengths at the right age and an emotional
appeal for language learning; equally we must seize on important events such a the
next London Olympics as real working examples of the importance of language
learning.
It was left to delegates in the afternoon discussion groups to consider any implications
of the national strategy for bilingual education and CLIL. Full details of the national
languages strategy and the rôle of the Languages Company are now published on the
latter‟s website.
Over an excellent buffet lunch prepared by the school’s caterer Ken Hall, participants
were able to discuss the morning’s proceedings, and also to share further thoughts
with each other. A lively intervention came from former ESC pupil Liz Fraser, with
an impassioned appeal for co-operation in ensuring the future of the European School
and what it represented.
Afternoon Discussion Groups On arrival in the morning the conference members signed up for one of the working
groups. The aims & questions examined are shown below.
a) The Future of European and other Baccalaureates - Jim Campbell
The ETEE background paper on the European Schools and Baccalaureate. With
change in the air, with the Reform Working Party on the EB, the Cambridge EB
review, and the intention of opening out and making the EB competitive, some
schools are looking to combine or run in parallel the EB and IB, and others use
the AbiBac.
What should the future hold? Discussion was led by Jim Campbell, with his long
experience of the EB in European Schools, and current involvement in its marking
and adjudication. Overviews of the IB and EB were given by Peter Kotrc and
Dave McDonald, leading to discussion of pros and cons, strengths and
weaknesses, similarities and differences.It was noted that Type III European
School status i.e. pedagogical accreditation to the ES system) will allow for EU
support in quality management, but without financial support from the EC. A
fuller note is available for members of the discussion group.
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b) A Multilingual Europe: every teacher a teacher of language(s)? - Paddy
Carpenter
Paddy Carpenter, who has worked with the EU Commission on language issues
over many years and is currently working on an EU funded project (MOLAN)
looking at how practices, such as CLIL, enhance motivation, led discussion on the
challenges outlined in Dr Orban‟s message to the conference. With the widespread
global use of English, motivation to learn languages in an Anglophone country is
at low ebb. How can we learn from our different experiences across Europe? Can
cross-curricular practice such as CLIL work without whole- school involvement?
The topic attracted considerable interest, and led to a lively session, which was
able to incorporate an input from Bulgarian CLIL experience and also merged
with the planned NALDIC workshop (d) below.
c) The Oxford Brookes Café-Theatre Project 2009 Bringing creativity and cross-
curricular links to the teaching and learning of MFL - Beatrice Davies.
This workshop explored the impact of an integrated French and Drama project on
KS4 (sixth form) students & Postgraduate (PGCE) Modern Foreign Language
students. It examines the potential gain both in terms of motivation & attainment
for learners offered by contextualised language learning with culturally rich
content. It also drew conclusions on the impact of such projects on the
development of trainee teachers in their understanding of their role as modern
languages teachers.
Beatrice‟s presentation included lively and entertaining filmed episodes from the
recent theatre productions. Her detailed article on the project is published in
Francophone, No. 37, pages 17–22.
d) English as an Additional Language (EAL) and English Language Teaching
(ELT): contributions to CLIL – Dr. Charlotte Franson & Simon Murison-
Bowie.
Drawing on their varied professional experiences in second language education,
Charlotte Franson and Simon Murison-Bowie (National Association for Language
Development in the Curriculum) offered to discuss practice and issues from the
fields of EAL and ELT relevant to the field of CLIL and modern languages.
Disappointingly, they were thwarted by the conference‟s option system, which
will have to be reconsidered for future conferences.
e) The Languages Ladder for England and the suite of multilingual tests known as
‘Asset languages’ the standards for which are mapped against the Common
European Framework of Reference for Languages - Kate Green
The development of a national recognition scheme for languages, the Languages
Ladder, is one of three overarching aims of the National Languages Strategy. The
scheme is designed to endorse achievement in language skills at all levels of
competence for all ages in a wide range of languages.
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Kate Green, at the invitation of ESC, also led this information session, which is
important for schools such as ESC seeking to relate forms of recognition in UK
and other European countries. As Education Consultant, now for Links into
Languages, Kate has done much to publicize the Languages Ladder scheme, and
its relevance to the European Framework was of wider interest.
f) Improving Learning through an International Curriculum - Helen
O’Donoghue
In this ever changing world of complexity and challenge, Helen O‟Donoghue
posed the question: how can an international curriculum seek to improve learning
and give our children the key essential skill set, tools, attitudes and disposition to
manage and live well and responsibly in this world? During this session, which
was informed by excellent Powerpoint presentation kindly made available to
participants on ETEE website, the group explored what is changing in our world
and how we are aiming to give our children the best possible learning in the
twenty-first century. Helen used the example of the International Baccalaureate
Primary Years Programme and the International Primary Curriculum.
Plenary Session 3.
An Intercultural Future: where next in a global context?
Dr. Caroline Ellwood, Editor, International Schools Journal.
Dr Ellwood brought the
conference to a close with
a wide-ranging
presentation of the
problems, challenges &
opportunities facing the
world & the role
languages can play in
improving understanding
in multicultural settings.
She referred to some of
the elements of chaos
theory and how seemingly
minor events can have
significant and far-
reaching effects.
During her talk, for which a draft is available to conference partticipants, Dr Ellwood
referred to elements of extremism, but also to grounds for optimism. In addition she
referred to the inspirational work of Kurt Hahn among many others, and finally
brought the conference back to EU Commissioner Leonard Orban‟s opening message.
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The session ended with a poem read by pupils of the European School based on the
words of that Citizen of the world, Tom Paine, amplified by the abolitionist William
Lloyd Garrison to encompass universal emancipation, and published in „The
Liberator' in 1831. „My country is the world, my countrymen mankind‟‟
Thanks were expressed to all concerned by Jackie Holderness. Eva
Brinkmann as Chair of ETEE made a presentation to Jackie, thanking her
warmly for leading us through the day. We looked forward to pursuing
exchanges made during the conference and returning next year.
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ANNEXES
1. PROGRAMME Friday 12 June 2009
09.15 – 09.30 Arrival, registration, morning coffee
09.45 Introductions
John Sayer, ETEE Trustee
Orientation
Jackie Holderness, ELT author, ESC teacher, formerly Oxford Brookes University
Welcome and Introduction for Plenary 1
Simon Sharron, Director, European School Culham
10.00 Plenary I: Shaping a European curriculum as a window on the world
Professor Steve Cowley, Director, UK Atomic Energy Authority, Culham
10.45 The school at work: classroom visits and demonstrations
Simon Sharron to introduce
10.45 – 11.00 Coffee available
12.00 Plenary II: Language policy reform in England, National Language Strategy, and the contribution of bilingual education.
Kate Green, Education Consultant, The Languages Company
13.00 Buffet Lunch
14.00 Working Groups to include:
Future of European and other Baccalaureates
Multilingual Europe: every teacher a teacher of language(s)?
Cross-Curricular language-learning: The French Café-Théâtre Project
ELT, EAL as preparation for bilingual education
The Language Ladder & Common European Framework
Bilingual education and an international primary curriculum
Led by Jim Campbell, formerly ESC teacher, Tutor Kellogg College, Oxford. Paddy Carpenter, CLIL Consultant, Co-initiator of EU Lingua and Comenius Programmes.
Beatrice Davies, Senior Lecturer in Modern Languages, Oxford Brookes University Dr Charlotte Franson, NALDIC, Senior Lecturer, Canterbury Christ Church University & Simon Murison Bowie, NALDIC & Senior Research Fellow, King’s College London Kate Green, (see above) Helen O’Donogue, Principal, Southbank International School.
15.00 Plenary III: An intercultural future: where next in a global context
Dr Caroline Ellwood, International Schools Consultant, Editor, International Schools Magazine and Journal
16.00 Tea/Close
Y
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2. PARTICIPANT LIST, EUROPA CONFERENCE, CULHAM 2009
Name Position Address E-mail
Austin, Sheila Parent
c/o European School,
Culham
Boren, Holly L1 English Co-
ordinator,
Secondary
European School Culham [email protected]
Bray, Titia Primary Teacher European School Culham [email protected]
Bronneberg,
Marlou
Dutch Teacher School for Europe, Via
Saffi 8, 43100 Parma,
Italy
Burrows, Fiona International
Editor
Oxford University Press,
Great Clarendon Street,
Oxford OX2 6DP
Campbell, Jim ETEE Trustee 24 Frenchey Road,
Oxford,
OX2 6TG
Carpenter,
Paddy
CLIL Consultant 2 Route de Boissy, 77133
Féricy, France
Chad, Claire Macmillan
Representative
Macmillan Publishers
c/o Karen
Long, Regional
Manager, UK and Ireland
Coakley,
Mareike
Acting Head of
Spanish,
Tomlinscote
School
Frimley
GU16 8PY
Cowley, Steve
(Professor)
Director
UKAEA Culham Division
Culham Science Centre
Abingdon OX1 3DB
Crudopf,,
Wenke
Deputy Head of
Culture and
Education
German Embassy London,
23 Belgrave Square
London SW1X 8PZ
Contact E-mail: wiss-
Damkjaer, Lars Danish Inspector [email protected]
Davies,
Beatrice
Senior Lecturer in
Modern
Languages
Westminster Institute of
Education, Oxford
Brookes University,
Harcourt Hill Campus,
Oxford, OX2 9AT
Durand, Cecile
St Bartholomew‟s School,
Andover Road, Newbury,
Berkshire RG14 6JP
Ellwood,
Caroline (Dr)
International
Schoolss
Consultant, Editor
International Schools
Magazine and Journal
Etherinton,
Mark
Head of MFL Bradfield College,
Bradfield, Reading RG7
6AU
k
11
Fantato,
Maurizio
ETEE Vice-Chair 25 Pococks Close,
Bampton, OX18 2JY
Franson,
Charlotte
Principal Lecturer Department of English
and Languages Studies,
Canterbury Christ Church
University, Canterbury,
Kent CT1 2DB
Frazer, Liz Writer, ESC
alumna
Green, Kate Education
Consultant
The Languages Company,
Hamilton House,
Mabledon Place,
Bloomsbury, London
WC1H 9BB
Gross, Karl Head of bilingual
studies
Whitgift School, Hailing
Park, South Croydon
CR26 YT
Heering,
Andrea
Secondary
Teacher
European School Culham [email protected]
Heering,
Thomas
Secondary
Teacher
European School Culham [email protected]
Heinrichs, Jörg Secondary
Teacher
European School Culham [email protected]
Hilton, Eliza International
Coordinator
SS Mary & John Primary
School, Oxford
Hilton, Zena South East
Regional Manager
Links into Languages,
University of
Southampton
Avenue Campus
Highfield,
Southampton SO17 1BJ
Holderness,
Jackie
ELT author and
teacher
European School Culham [email protected]
Jameson, Susan Class teacher EP5
European School Culham [email protected]
Kitanova,
Stefka
FACT group –
Bulgaria,
President of
AEDE – BG
Section.
POB 57, Sofia 1797
Bulgaria
Koljonen, Teijo Director European Schooling
Helsink, Ratakatu 6 A,
00120 Helsinki
Kotrc, Peter Principal International School of
The Hague,
Wijndaelerduin 1,
2554BX The Hague, The
Netherlands
Laczik, Andrea
(Dr)
Research Fellow
Centre for Education &
Industry, University of
Warwick, Coventry CV4
12
7AL
Lingier, Carine Vice-president
Interparents
Hoekweid 1, 1862ba
Bergen, The Netherlands
Little, John Teacher European School Culham [email protected]
Longshaw,
Linda
SEN teacher European School Culham [email protected]
McCarthy,
Maeve
Class teacher EP4 European School Culham [email protected]
McDonald,
David
Secondary
Teacher
European School Culham [email protected]
Macfarlane,
John
Secondary
Teacher
European School Culham [email protected]
Maxwell-
Hyslop, Hilary
Director of
Examinations
The Institute of
Linguistics Educational
Trust, Saxon House, 48
Southwark Street, London
Bridge, London SE7 7UN
Melani,
Ernestina
Teacher Fl 5, 6 Queen‟s Gardens,
London W2 3BA
Meskini, Soheil
ICT Coordinator European School Culham [email protected]
Muir, Faith CEI Regional
Director
Centre for Education and
Industry, University of
Warwick, Coventry CV4
7AL
Murison-
Bowie, Simon
Senior Research
Fellow, King‟s
College London
University of London [email protected]
Nannini, Ute International
Centre Manager
Campion School,
Kislingbury Road,
Bugbrooke,Northampton,
Northamts, NN7 3QG
Naranjo,
Inmaculada
Language Adviser Consejeria de Educación,
20 Peel Street, London
W8 7PD
Nießler-
Brinkmann,
Eva (Dr)
ETEE Chair Widenmayerstraße 7,
80538 Munich, Germany.
enbrinkmann@wb-european-
affairs.eu
O‟Donoghue,
Helen
Principal Southbank International
School London
HelenM.O'[email protected]
Pfeiffer, Karl Director of
Educational Links
Goethe Institute, 50
Princess Gate, Exhibition
Road, London, SW7 2PH
Phillips, Ann English
Coordinator
L'Ecole Européenne de
Strasbourg
Purcell, Nöel Teacher L'Ecole Européenne de
Strasbourg
Rathmell, Katy Teacher West Kidlington Primary
School, Oxford Road,
Kidlington, OX5 1EA
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Richard Laval,
Nathalie
Teacher European School Culham [email protected]
Rimensberger,
Wilfred
29 Gainsborough House,
London, SW1P 4HX
Roberts, Angus ETEE Trustee 15 Scholars Mews,
Marston Ferry Road,
Oxford OX2 7GY
Sauveroche,
Benoit
Parents
Association CES
Dunshaughlin
Food & Veterinary Office,
Grange-Dunsany, Ireland
Sayer, John ETEE Trustee 8 Northmoor Road,
Oxford,
OX2 6UP
Sharron, Simon Head European
School Culham
European School Culham [email protected]
Sidbury, Geneviève (Mrs)
Teacher European School Culham [email protected]
Simonard-
Noury, Beatrice
(Mrs)
Teacher and
Coordinator of
French
British School of Paris
38 quai de l‟Ecluse
78290 Croissy Sur Seine,
France
Skinner, Paula Teacher St. George‟s International
School Luxembourg, 11
Rue des Peupliers
2328 Luxembourg
Smith, Cathy Macmillan
Representative
Macmillan Publishers
c/o Karen Long, Regional
Manager, UK and Ireland
Spinelli,
Josephine
Administration
Secretary
School for Europe, Via
Saffi 8, 43100 Parma,
Italy
Sotelo, Juan Spanish Teacher European School Culham [email protected]
Symonds,
Eugene
Headteacher West Kidlington Primary
School, Oxford Road,
Kidlington, OX5 1EA
Headteacher.2110@west-
kidlington.oxon.sch.uk
Teichert,
Constance
Teacher European School Culham [email protected]
Triulzi ,
Alessandra
Deputy Nursery &
Primary
School for Europe, Via
Saffi 8, 43100 Parma,
Italy
Van Vrede,
Karin
ETEE Trustee Pear Tree Cottage,
15 Wharf Road,
Shillingford,
OX10 7EW
Wannenwetsch,
Elisabeth
Teacher European School Culham Elisabeth.wannenwetsch@esculham.
net
Wolstencroft,
Marc
Headteacher Wix Primary School,
Wix‟s Lane, Clapham
Common Northside,
London SW4 0AJ
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3. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ETEE gratefully acknowledges the support of Dr. Orban, the European Union’s
Commissioner for Multilingualism.
ETEE is grateful to the European School Culham for close collaboration in planning
and presenting the conference, and to the Culham European School Parents
Association for collaboration in the pre-meetings on 11 June
Our thanks are due to the following organisations for sponsorship:
RWE NPower
Macmillan Education
4. ETEE
Full details of the English Trust for European Education will be
found on our website: www.etee.org.uk.