Schools from Oldham are set to benefit from a motivational careers fair to encourage students to continue studying languages and take a GCSE in a language.
The event is being held at the Brian Clarke Academy on Booth Street, Oldham, on Thursday, February 6, 2025, and encourages Year 9 pupils to improve in language lessons.
It aims to improve GCSE language uptake and achievement in Oldham and Tameside and to ensure pupils, aged 14 to 18 from all backgrounds, have the opportunity to study language through Key Stage 5.
Cranmer Education Trust was selected to be a Language Hub as part of a nationwide campaign, funded by the DfE, and is one of only 15 language hubs in the UK.
Specialist language teachers, Michelle Massey, head of German at the Blue Coat School, and Catherine Woodward, head of MFL at Brian Clarke Academy have been working hard to re-energise language learning and encouraging greater uptake in GCSE languages over the last 18 months..
The schools participating from the Oldham area include the Hathershaw School, North Chadderton School, The Radclyffe School and The Saddleworth School.
Peter Taylor, Principal of Audenshaw Secondary School said: “We have been working in partnership for some time now with Cranmer Education Trust to which I might say has been a really successful journey!
“The level of expertise that our school both possesses but also has been exposed to externally through being part of the partnership has been outstanding. There is a relentless desire and advocacy for language learning and it’s fantastic to see such relevant and high-quality collaboration lead to impact.
"There is no doubt our students have had direct benefit both in and outside the classroom as part of the programme. We are tasked as an educational establishment to provide an offer of learning that prepares each and every student with opportunities to be highly successful in the world of work and industry, the grasp of a language can only enhance that career path and bring value through human connection, globally. Bravo to one and all that both attend the careers event and are engaged in language provision.”
The careers fair is set to attract around 300 students from the eight partner schools.
“Thank you to all those teachers, leaders and businesses involved for their professional generosity and enthusiasm to inspire so many young people.”
The event will open with a motivational talk by David Binns, director of UK Operations at SANAKO, focusing on how important a second language skill is in any chosen career and at initial interview stage. The talks have been extremely well received by all who attend and have seen as much as 300% increase in language uptake within some schools.
David is also a Fellow of the Association for Language Learning (ALL) and travels the country delivering onsite & virtual MFL student career talks stressing the importance of a second language skill in any chosen career and at initial interview stage.
Following David’s talk the students will get the chance to speak to different businesses from a range of sectors including STEM, FinTech, and Law, with the University of Leeds and The University of Manchester also in attendance.
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