Article Details

Article Details

Strategy and support for language learning at RIC-level

Author: Lynne Jones, SCILT and Sylvia Georgin, Northern Alliance 1+2 Development Group

Towards the end of last academic session, SCILT made contact with all of the Regional Improvement Collaboratives (RICs) in order to find out how language learning featured in their work and to offer SCILT support. Since then, one of SCILT’s Professional Development Officers has accepted an invitation to join the Northern Alliance 1+2 Development Group.

This RIC comprises eight local authorities across the north and west of Scotland. Modern Languages is one of 17 workstreams that currently make up the Northern Alliance Regional Improvement Plan, and is closely linked with their emerging literacy strand. As such, it is explicitly linked to narrowing the poverty-related attainment gap.

There is mixed representation from Gaelic and Languages Development Officers, Quality Improvement Officers and Secondary Principal Teachers of languages from all eight local authorities – Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Argyll and Bute, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Highland, Moray, Orkney and Shetland Islands.

The aim of the Northern Alliance 1+2 Languages Group is to share approaches to languages and build on the strengths of each authority involved, whilst working closely with all relevant partners such as Education Scotland, Higher Education institutions and SCILT.

The team meet face-to-face to talk strategy, vision and resources and make wide use of digital technology, such as Microsoft Teams to share materials, ask questions and work collaboratively on projects that will impact at school level: “It’s great to be part of a dynamic and enthusiastic team of language specialists across eight local authorities. Working with partner organisations, we have been able to capitalise on that wealth of experience to develop sustainable approaches in language learning that will benefit all our young people.”

SCILT is open to working with the other RICs in similar ways. Please email SCILT.

University of Strathclyde Education Scotland British Council Scotland The Scottish Government
SCILT - Scotlands National centre for Languages