French classes smell of success at St Andrew's
Pupils as young as 4 years of age are learning to speak French at St Andrew’s
Primary School with the help of two new French tutors and a range of smelly
French cheeses. The cheeses are brought into the school as a fun way to grab
the children’s attention and reinforce pupils’ learning by using all of their
senses.
The new language classes started this term in response to requests from
interested pupils and parents.
One of the new French tutors says: “Primary school age children pick up new
languages very naturally and learning French prepares them for further
language study later in life”.
St Andrew's pupil, Damien Newcombe, aged 10, has been trying some of the
smelly cheeses. However, he says: “I like learning French a lot but do not
like the idea of eating other French food such as snails or frogs legs”.
Michelle Thomas, Headteacher at St Andrew’s explained that despite being
smaller than most other schools in the Islington, French is just one of the
extras that the school offers: “St Andrew’s has many after school clubs
including keyboard, football, dance and drama, arts, netball and martial
arts”.
She believes that it is these extras that have a knock on effect on pupils’
attainment and have contributed towards the impressive school exam results for
2005: “Our results make St Andrew’s one of the most improved schools in the
borough”.
The school still has limited places in both Reception and Year 1. Mrs Thomas
welcomes any parents who would like to see the school for themselves but
suggests that those with sensitive noses wait a day or two for the smell of
the cheese to fully clear.
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