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Bilingual free school gets go-ahead

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Spalding’s first “free school” is set to be ready for its first intake of pupils in September 2014.

The bilingual school, to be run by the Phoenix Family of Schools, is one of 102 new free schools to be given the green light in the latest round of Department for Education (DfE)approvals.

The school, which initially will take Reception and Year 1 pupils, will teach Spanish and English.

The DfE praised the Phoenix Family of School for its commitment, energy and vision, which will see one of the first state-funded bilingual primary schools in the country.

Phoenix Family of Schools chief executive officer Carol Clare said: “This school will enable the children of Spalding to access worlds and future employment opportunities previously denied them.

“We chose Spanish as the bilingual element since it is the third most spoken language in the world after English and Chinese Mandarin.

“It is increasingly becoming the language of business and also uses the same alphabet as English.

“Research shows learning another language also improves children’s capacity to learn in other areas of the curriculum.

“It is our aim that children who enter the school at Key Stage One will, on leaving the school at age 11, have a good degree of fluency in Spanish as well as achieving highly in all subject areas.”

The Phoenix Family of Schools says it has already made strong contacts with educational staff at the Spanish Embassy in London in preparation for the new school and is looking foward to providing an “innovative, ground-breaking” school that will equip children with the bilingual skills needed for the 21st century.

Free schools are independent of the local education authority, but are state funded and free to attend.

The Phoenix Family of Schools Academy Trust is currently made up of five schools, including Gosberton Academy.

Mrs Clare added: “The immerse children in another language to enrich and extend their social, cultural and academic world.”


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