French speaking teachers in primary schools (FOI)

​Request

A.

How many French speaking teachers will there be working in Jersey’s state primary schools from September 2015?

B.

What is the budget for recruiting French speaking teachers going forward to meet the Education Department commitment to introducing French lessons from year one of primary school?

Response

A.

Education, Sport and Culture does not keep a central record of French speaking teachers working in primary schools.

B.

There is not a central budget specifically for recruiting French speaking teachers. Education, Sport and Culture is committed to improving the teaching of French in States of Jersey schools.

From September 2015, the provision of French teaching in primary school is extended to at least four year groups (years 3, 4, 5 and 6) from the current position of two year groups (years 5 and 6).

The longer term ambition is to teach French from years 1 to 6 in primary, and years 7 to 11 in secondary education. Some primary schools already teach French in all year groups, and a number of secondary schools already do so for all 11 to 16 year olds. Research into establishing a French-English bilingual school is ongoing.