SUBTITLE DAY, MONTH, YEAR Towards a Languages Education Policy for NSW AFMLTA 2015 10 July 2015

SUBTITLEDAY, MONTH, YEAR

Towards a LanguagesEducation Policy for NSW

AFMLTA 2015

10 July 2015

THE BOARD OF STUDIES, TEACHING AND EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS NSW

The Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW (BOSTES) is responsible for school curriculum, assessment, and teaching and regulatory standards in NSW schools.

Our key responsibilities relate to:

•development of the curriculum for Kindergarten to Year 12

•accreditation of teachers

•development and conduct of the Higher School Certificate

•administration of the NAPLAN tests

•registration and accreditation of schools

THE ROLE OF THE BOSTES

BACKGROUND

•The Australian Curriculum: Languages

•Australia in the Asian Century White Paper

•NERA

•Coalition Students First Policy

2011 - 2012 - 2013

THE NEW SOUTH WALES CONTEXT

•NSW Community Languages Schools Program

•Approximately 32,000 students

•55 languages

•Approximately 2,560 teachers

LANGUAGE LEARNING IN THE COMMUNITY

•Languages not a Key Learning Area in primary

•Community Languages K-6 Program

•Bilingual Schools Program

•Aboriginal languages programs K-6

LANGUAGE LEARNING K-6

• Mandatory 100 hours of language learning

• BOSTES syllabuses for 17 languages

• Languages elective in Years 9 and 10

• Very limited uptake of Aboriginal languages

LANGUAGE LEARNING YEARS 7-10

•BOSTES syllabuses for 64 courses

•35 languages

•5 levels

•Eligibility rules

•<10% of students taking a language course

LANGUAGE LEARNING YEARS 11-12

•The Open High School

•The Saturday School of Community Languages

•Distance Education Centres

LANGUAGE LEARNING - OTHER

REVIEW OF LANGUAGES EDUCATION

•Discussions with key stakeholders

•Stocktake of NSW languages programs

•Examination of policies and programs

•Research into best practice

PRELIMINARY CONSULTATION

1. A new K-10 curriculum framework

2. A new approach to senior secondary languages

3. Broader recognition of language proficiency

4. Strengthening Aboriginal languages

5. Raising the profile of languages education

6. Further national contributions for languages

SIX INITIAL PROPOSALS

•Steering Committee

•Consultation meetings

•Stakeholder meetings

•Online survey and written submissions

•Consultation report

REVIEW CONSULTATION

•The proposals

•The assumptions

•Endorsement for the proposals

2014

LANGUAGES EDUCATION ACTION PLAN

•NSW Languages Advisory Panel

•A NSW Languages Education Policy

•Cross-sectoral data collection and reporting

•Promotion strategy for schools, community,

industry and business

SETTING A NEW DIRECTION

•Primary Languages specialisation in ITE

•New courses/qualifications

•Quality of initial teacher education courses

•Career pathways for languages teachers

•Professional learning for languages teachers

•Emergent language teacher leadership

STRENGTHENING THE PROFESSION

•Qualifications, professional learning and

paraprofessional status

•Extend and improve partnerships between

schools and community languages programs

STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY LANGUAGES

•New K-10 Languages Curriculum Framework

•Primary Languages Key Learning Area

•Best practice guidance for primary programs

•Incorporation of elective languages units of

competence in VET courses

WORLD-CLASS CURRICULUM

•Coordinated distribution of programs and

resources

•Revised mandatory requirements in Stage 4

•Continuous study in a single language K-12

IMPROVED LINKS AND ACCESS

• Eligibility requirements

• Course nomenclature

• HSC pattern of study requirements

• ATAR bonus points scheme

• Communication strategy

ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION

•K-10 Languages Proficiency Framework

•Languages Passport

•Participation and achievement on RoSA

•Up2now extracurricular tool

RECOGNISING ACHIEVEMENT

•Stage 6 Aboriginal languages course

•Support materials for K-10 Aboriginal Languages

•Online compendium of resources

•Revised requirements for mandatory 100 hours

•Language focus in Aboriginal Studies syllabus

STRENGTHENING ABORIGINAL LANGUAGES

•Strategy to promote the value of language and

intercultural awareness skills in the workforce

•Articulated pathways to VET

•Opportunities for scholarships

PARTNERSHIPS WITH EMPLOYERS

•http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/languagesreview/

MORE INFORMATION

Principal Policy Officer

kelli.cato@bostes.nsw.edu.au

+61 2 9367 8205

Kelli Cato