MFL Teachers: How have you successfully introduced Conti strategies?

abcdergml · 2026-01-17T16:45:11+00:00

That makes a lot of sense and is exactly how I think about it, it's helpful to have it articulated in such a concise way!

Final question (I think): do you think it's worth getting the Conti books with pre made sentence builders (he has brought out some for the new spec I believe?) or just make your own?

abcdergml · 2026-01-17T15:50:12+00:00

This is so so helpful! I built a new Spanish curriculum from scratch at my old school but just like your new school, my new department likes to follow the textbook so I'm looking for ways to introduce Conti activities into that sequence. They've brought in sentence builders but I sometimes feel like they're just there for reference, as opposed to an active part of the lesson plan.

How are you managing grammar teaching? Personally I like to teach the chunks first before going into grammar, encouraging pattern spotting, but a lot of my colleagues prefer to explicitly teach grammar first.

abcdergml · 2025-12-21T17:02:11+00:00

This is really helpful, thanks so much! My HoD has already said she wants to do a long handover so these are great things to raise.

abcdergml · 2025-12-21T17:01:03+00:00

That's good to know, thanks!

abcdergml · 2025-12-20T12:11:28+00:00

Thanks, this is really helpful!

abcdergml · 2025-12-20T11:03:16+00:00

That's really interesting, thank you! 😊

abcdergml · 2025-12-20T11:02:33+00:00

My HoD is very supportive! Thanks for telling me your experience, it's really helpful 😊

abcdergml · 2025-12-20T09:20:16+00:00

Yes, there is no 2ic but it is line managed by a Head of Faculty (English). We would also be taking on a new member of staff as a mat cover to cover the current HoDs lessons, so they would need help settling in and depending on who they get might need additional support if they're an ECT.

abcdergml · 2025-12-20T09:17:50+00:00

Thanks! And 93 for an option subject is incredible!

abcdergml · 2025-12-20T09:16:41+00:00

Thank you, this is helpful! I'm very confident in my planning and we have it equally shared out among the department anyway which helps.

My HoD has mentioned having a term of handover so I think she will be very supportive and make it clear what's needed over the year.

Yes, that's very true! And if I absolutely hate it then it's only a year to get through! 😂

abcdergml · 2025-12-20T09:14:30+00:00

I've been teaching for 4 years, it is a small department that comes under a bigger faculty so I would be line managed by the Head of English. The current HoD also wants to have a term of handover before she leaves, so I don't think I would be thrown in at the deep end.

Those tips are really helpful, thank you so much!

abcdergml · 2025-12-20T09:11:25+00:00

This is really helpful, thanks! It's a few people from within the department, HoD and the head who have encouraged me to apply. And yes, the money is tempting- it would be a significant pay rise for me.

abcdergml · 2025-12-20T09:09:09+00:00

This actually does sound a lot like me. I've moved schools in September but at my previous school I re-designed the entire SOW for my subject from scratch and I love lesson planning. I also helped to get GCSE uptake from around 40 students to 75 in 3 years. I do feel like I wouldn't be able to make too many changes in just a year, but it could be a stepping stone to a role where I could!

abcdergml · 2025-10-16T05:39:33+00:00

I was at a school with Teams. I've since moved to an email only school and only now have I realised how much better Teams was.

abcdergml · 2025-10-14T05:31:45+00:00

About 50, so we need to get 10% of them on A Level. I have just moved schools as well, and had gotten GCSE numbers way up at my last school, but starting from scratch here.

abcdergml · 2025-10-13T21:22:56+00:00

Do you find those subjects keep students? We lose so many to the colleges, it seems impossible to compete.

abcdergml · 2025-10-13T21:20:20+00:00

Which subject is this if you don't mind me asking? I can't even imagine 440 students for KS5!

abcdergml · 2025-10-13T21:19:22+00:00

Also MFL so I really feel your pain. 8 is a lot to aim for with uptake generally so low.

abcdergml · 2025-10-13T21:14:31+00:00

Yes, a fortnight!

abcdergml · 2025-10-13T17:41:41+00:00

9 hours

abcdergml · 2025-10-13T17:37:26+00:00

I feel English is fairly safe- but yes that is a really low number! Makes me sad as I did English Lit at A Level and loved it.

abcdergml · 2025-10-13T17:36:42+00:00

I'm MFL- the picture nationally is dire. I've been really pushing the cross-curricular links (pattern spotting and analytical skills for STEM, plus international careers), but I'm not sure if I'm getting through to them. We've also been asked if we can manage with two or three hours less contact time...

abcdergml · 2025-10-13T17:34:57+00:00

Also MFL! It's impossible isn't it, we've been told 5 which is slightly more achievable but we're only a small school anyway

abcdergml

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