A Message From The Headteacher
Contextualising School Improvement
Please see the attached letter below that puts into context the various changes that have taken place since September 2023.
Included are details of how to book slots at a weekly parent forum where anybody who would like to come in to see me (Mr. Gargan) and learn more about the school, ask questions and/or follow up on matters of interest to them are welcome.
Department Spotlight
This Week: Modern Foreign Languages (MFL)
MFL at Westgate
The Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) department is thrilled to share the incredible achievements and vibrant activities our students have been involved in this term. Here’s a snapshot of what each year group has been learning and the exciting ways they are engaging with language and culture:
Year 7
Our Year 7 students have been learning how to introduce themselves, including greetings, age, birthday, and spelling their names. To bring this to life, they created personalised birthday cards, complete with typical greetings in French and Spanish: “Bon Anniversaire,” “Joyeux Anniversaire,” and “Feliz Cumpleaños.” Authentic videos helped students perfect pronunciation, and they had fun singing along as a class!
Integrating maths, they worked with numbers in the target language, using arithmetic and representing class data with bar charts, tally charts, and tables—an engaging start to language learning with practical skills and active learning.
Year 8
Year 8 students delved into the language of relationships, learning vocabulary about friends, family, and where they live. Interactive games, such as “Lotto”, “Mind Reader” and “Sentence Stealer” (created by Dr. Gianfranco Conti, a leader in language teaching methodology), helped reinforce their vocabulary.
In French, students explored francophone cultures through Moroccan poetry songs, inspiring them to create their own poems about family relationships and self-expression. Spanish students embarked on a virtual journey, learning about famous Spanish-speaking cities around the world, encouraging active engagement with language and culture.
Year 9
With a focus on family relationships and healthy lifestyles, our Year 9 students are putting their skills to practical use by writing pen-pal letters in collaboration with our language assistants. This exercise enriches students’ understanding of the cultural and linguistic nuances that are part of the national curriculum. Writing to pen pals allows students to apply language skills in real-world contexts, building confidence in their reading, writing, and cultural understanding through active learning.
Year 10
Our Year 10s have explored topics like personality descriptions, relationships, and marriage, with a specific look at the PACS system—a unique partnership agreement in France. They’ve enjoyed the engaging “Bob-Up” game, where students from opposing teams pop up to read aloud prepared sentences, a dynamic method for practicing pronunciation, intonation, fluency, and spontaneity. It’s been a lively and active way for students to learn and build their confidence.
Year 11
Focussed on completing their GCSE curriculum, our Year 11 students have been preparing for their upcoming mocks with dedication. Attendance at French and Spanish intervention sessions on Wednesdays has been excellent, showing their commitment. They recently completed their speaking mocks, and Spanish students enjoyed a memory retrieval game called “El Juego de la Oca,” a classic game similar to snakes and ladders with an added challenge inspired by Monopoly’s jail—bringing active learning and a bit of fun into revision.
Assessment for Learning
Our MFL department is committed to using varied assessment styles to support both formative and summative learning goals. This term, all year groups completed assessments that allowed students to showcase their learning in depth. Each Purple assessment was followed by a personalized yellow feedback sheet, and students then participated in a “boost lesson,” where they reflected on their work and made corrections in green pen based on individualized feedback. This “Teach-Boost-Teach” cycle reinforces understanding, promotes growth, and helps students take ownership of their learning.
To support students in speaking and writing, we’ve been using sentence builders, a tool originally developed by Dr. Gianfranco Conti. Sentence builders provide students with structured sentence patterns and vocabulary, helping them to formulate responses more confidently and accurately. They are particularly effective in promoting fluency, as students can use the scaffolding provided to communicate effectively and build complexity in their responses over time.
Throughout the term, we’ve incorporated interactive tools, like whiteboards, to play true or false games and to identify missing answers. Whiteboards are especially beneficial in instant assessment, allowing teachers to gauge understanding across the class quickly and address misconceptions on the spot.
We’ve used a variety of teaching methods, from individual silent study tasks and cold calling to group discussions. This approach caters to diverse learning preferences and provides students with opportunities to process information independently while benefiting from collaborative problem-solving and peer insights. Other assessment methods have included quizzes, oral responses, self-reflection exercises, and peer assessments, creating a balanced approach that supports students in building both knowledge and confidence.
MFL Staff Training and Collaboration
Our MFL team regularly gathers to collaborate, share ideas, and deepen their skills in teaching and learning. During these sessions, the team discusses a wide range of topics, including cultural immersion, technology integration, pair and group work, and techniques for enhancing reading, listening, and speaking activities.
Together, we explore cross-curricular connections and active learning strategies, finding new ways to engage students in meaningful language learning experiences. This collaborative approach ensures that our teaching methods remain dynamic, relevant, and responsive to student needs, allowing us to continuously improve and innovate in the classroom.
Celebrating Language Diversity, Home Languages, and European Day of Languages
In honour of the European Day of Languages, Mrs. Siddiqui, Head of MFL, delivered an inspiring assembly on Article 30, which recognises the rights of minority and indigenous children to enjoy their culture, practice their language, and celebrate their heritage. This message resonates deeply with our community at The Westgate School, where students’ rich linguistic diversity is embraced. Many students are preparing to take GCSEs in their home languages, including Polish, Russian, Arabic, and Portuguese, while others aim for A-Levels in Arabic, Italian, and Punjabi. By supporting students in these qualifications, we celebrate their heritage and honor the spirit of Article 30.
This year’s European Day of Languages celebration was a truly cross-curricular event, with multiple departments joining in to celebrate linguistic diversity. In Maths, students practiced arithmetic in various languages, exploring number terms from different countries. English students watched scenes from Macbeth performed in different languages, giving them insight into how literature transcends language barriers. The Science department created an exciting physical treasure hunt where students located different scientific equipment labelled in various languages. This school-wide effort provided a rich experience of language in different contexts, celebrating diversity and fostering a love for multilingualism.
Our celebration featured a charity event for The Alzheimer’s Society, with students showcasing cultural artefacts representing their heritage. Highlights included a Russian workshop led by a Grade 9 student, engaging online cultural games, and a charity cake sale, with students baking traditional treats and learning baking terminology in French and Spanish.
Lunchtime Clubs: Día de los Muertos and La Toussaint
In lunchtime clubs, students are enthusiastically preparing for the Mexican Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and the French observance of La Toussaint (All Saints’ Day). To dive into the cultural significance of these celebrations, students have been watching the animated film Coco, which highlights Mexican customs, including honoring deceased loved ones with ofrendas (offerings) and vibrant decorations. Students are learning vocabulary related to these traditions and discussing the importance of remembering family heritage.
After the half-term break, students will participate in hands-on creative activities like making colorful papel picado (decorative paper banners) and designing marigold garlands, both traditional elements of Mexican Day of the Dead altars. French students will be exploring La Toussaint, a more solemn holiday in France that honors loved ones by visiting cemeteries and placing chrysanthemums on graves. These creative projects provide students with a deeper understanding of how different cultures celebrate remembrance in meaningful ways, reinforcing their language learning through cultural expression.
The MFL department is proud of our students’ enthusiasm, effort, and creativity as they explore language and culture, making The Westgate School a truly international and actively engaged learning environment!