Language College

Language Colleges logo

Language Colleges were introduced in 1995 as part of the specialist schools programme (SSP) in the United Kingdom. The system enabled secondary schools to specialise in certain fields, in this case, modern foreign languages. Schools that successfully applied to the Specialist Schools Trust and became Language Colleges received extra funding for language teaching from this joint private sector and government scheme. Language Colleges act as a local point of reference for other schools and businesses in the area, with an emphasis on promoting languages within the community. They are also encouraged to develop links with schools and other institutions in foreign countries. There were 216 Language Colleges in the country by 2010.^[1]

The specialist schools programme was discontinued by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government in April 2011. Since then schools can become Language Colleges either through academisation or through the Dedicated Schools Grant.^[2][3]

LC-SE project

The LC-SE project was a joint Franco-British educational programme conducted by the SST, DfES, French Ministry of Education and the Centre International d'Études Pédagogiques (CIEP). Specialist schools, usually Language Colleges, formed partnerships with European section schools in France.^[4] The project began in 2001 when French Minister of Education, Jack Lang, met with the SST. Partnerships between 100 Language Colleges and Lycées soon followed.^[5] Specialist Science Colleges were invited to join the project in 2006 and by 2007 all other SSP schools could take part.^[6][7]

References

1. "The Standards Site: Language". 2010-01-05. Archived from the original on 5 January 2010. Retrieved 2021-12-25.
2. "Specialist Schools". Politics.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-12-24.
3. "Specialist schools programme: Michael Gove announces changes". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2021-12-25.
4. "Partnerships between Colleges and French schools with Sections Européennes: the LC-SE project". www.lc-se.net. Archived from the original on 2006-05-11. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
5. Taylor, Sir Cyril; Ryan, Conor (2013-10-17). Excellence in Education: The Making of Great Schools. Routledge. p. 242. ISBN 978-1-135-39692-3.
6. "LC-SE - News and events". www.lc-se.net. 2006-07-15. Archived from the original on 2006-07-15. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
7. "LC-SE - News and events". 2007-11-03. Archived from the original on 2007-11-03. Retrieved 2022-01-23.