A Language College
A Language College with an International Ethos and Links Across the World
Montgomery High School applied to become a Specialist School in Modern Foreign Languages in September 1996. We raised £118,000 in sponsorship in support of our application and were successful in becoming a Language College on first application. The school was given specialist status in January 1997 and in June 1998, we hosted the third Annual Conference for all Language Colleges nationally, in part to demonstrate our commitment to this specialism.
Becoming a Language College transformed the school. It led us into achieving much higher standards of attainment, not just in modern foreign languages, but across the whole subject range. We lifted our % pass rate of 5+ grades A*-C at GCSE from the mid-thirties to the high fifties. We now aspire to raise standards of attainment onto a higher level again. Specialist status challenged the professional community, stimulated the teaching staff and brought a sense of pride and achievement to everybody in the school.
The school has introduced an ambitious programme of modern foreign language teaching. All students study a foreign language during each of their five years at Montgomery High School. The language studied can be French or German or Spanish. Other languages available to students are Japanese and Italian. Pupils at the school enjoy learning, even though it is not easy. Many students learn more than one language.
The school has worked to develop the teaching of modern foreign languages in its feeder primary schools. Currently 4 language teachers have timetable commitments in several local primary schools.
We are committed to creating an international sense of the world. Our achievements in this area were recognised by the British Council when they granted us International School Award for outstanding development of the international dimension of the curriculum. (2002).
We are developing a global network of partner schools.
These include:
- Scoala 280 Mikail Sebastian, Bucharest, Romania
- Obirin High School, Tokyo, Japan
- Batmansskolan, Gothenburg, Sweden
- C.P.I Manual Padin Truieiro Arcade, (Soutomaior), Galicia, Spain
In addition, we offer a number of international work experience placements in Bottrop, Germany. These placements are offered to Year 10 students studying German at GCSE level.
