Pupils in Arabic pilot project (From Keighley News)

Pupils in Arabic pilot project

9:40am Saturday 18th July 2009 in News By Keighley News reporter

A pilot project involving Eastwood Primary School has seen pupils learning Arabic as their main foreign language.

The Keighley School is among six across Bradford district taking part in the scheme developed by Education Bradford and a small group of head teachers.

The Arabic Pilot Project is the first of its kind in the country, delivering Arabic as the main foreign language during the school day within mainstream schools.

The idea grew out of an expectation that by 2010 all primary schools most show they are delivering modern foreign languages as part of the curriculum.

The scheme was developed by Jane Arundale and Beverley Minor, members of Education Bradford’s Primary Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) Team.

The team provides support and training for head teachers and foreign language teachers.

Bradford Arabic School — a supplementary school — and Belle Vue Girls’ School have taught modern standard Arabic to the pilot primary schools.

Modern standard Arabic is a new language, which the majority of children do not know. The teaching aims both to give the children new skills and build on community cohesion. Jane and Beverley spoke about the pilot scheme at the Primary Language Show, in Liverpool, earlier this year. Their presentation was well received and other local authorities have expressed interest. The women have also been invited to speak at the Community Languages National Show 2009, in Southampton. A short DVD has also been produced showing the teaching and learning of modern standard Arabic which is taking place in the pilot schools.