Ambassador from France honours school for exceptional French language provision
The French Ambassador to the UK, Her Excellency Madame Hélène Duchêne, visited Shaftesbury Park Primary School this week to renew the school’s prestigious LabelFrancÉducation accreditation, marking the school’s decade of excellence in French education.
The LabelFrancÉducation recognises schools outside France who contribute to the promotion of French language and culture, and in 2018, Shaftesbury Park became the first school in the UK to ever receive the prestigious award from the French Ambassador.
Council Leader Councillor Simon Hogg visited the school to witness this special moment, as the accreditation, awarded by the French Foreign Ministry, reaffirms the school’s dedication to exceptional French language education.
Council Leader Councillor Simon Hogg applauded the exceptional dedication of the Shaftesbury Park community: “This recognition is a testament to the unwavering passion of the school’s teachers and the resilience of its students, who excel in their bilingual education. It was an honour to visit Shaftesbury Park and celebrate its position as a beacon of French learning, not just in our local community but internationally as well.”
Shaftesbury Park introduced its pioneering bilingual stream in 2013, creating an immersive French language education programme that spans from nursery to year six. This unique offering enables all students, regardless of their home language, to develop French proficiency progressively. By the time they complete their primary education at age 11, many students have successfully achieved the A2 certificate from the DELF (Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française), a significant milestone equivalent to a strong GCSE pass. Additionally, the school serves as a registered DELF exam centre, supporting families in navigating these important assessments.
The school has also established enriching partnerships with Francophone schools worldwide (schools which teach French as a first language), offering students broader cultural experiences and fostering a global perspective.
Wandsworth Council says it is proud of Shaftesbury Park Primary School’s commitment to innovative, language-rich education that not only transforms the future of its students but also strengthens international cultural ties.
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