Annual Report 2023 Entire Book - Flipbook - Page 67
Additional Allocation to Schools to Support
Diversification of Foreign Languages Provision
14 Schools
53 Classes
Action 2.A.4
2 Saturday Classes
Overview:
Additional allocation to schools allows for dedicated hours for post-primary schools to deliver lesser-taught
languages and languages more recently added to the Leaving Certificate curriculum, for the purpose of
diversification of foreign language provision. For the academic year 2023/24 the additional allocation
continues to include the more recently added languages of Lithuanian, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, and
Portuguese, as well as the lesser-taught languages Italian, Japanese, and Russian. The eligible teachers are
fully registered post-primary teachers.
Main Aims:
•
To increase the number of students studying foreign languages in schools and diversify the range of
languages taught at post-primary level
•
To enable schools to take ownership of new language subjects which supports development of long-term
sustainability
Activity:
In 2023, 14 schools received additional allocation of hours. Japanese was introduced in one school and Polish
in another in 2023. In total, Japanese was being offered in five schools, Italian in five, Polish in two, Russian in
one, and Chinese in one school.
A total of 53 classes of students benefitted from the provision nationwide.
Schools are supported with the new subject development through visits from members of the PPLI Teaching
and Learning Team. They also receive support to encourage sustainability of the provision.
Impact:
•
The total number of schools has increased to 14
•
Two new schools employed teachers, one for Japanese and one for Polish
•
In the schools already availing of additional allocation, the offer has been expanded to more classes and
year groups - the total number of classes of students benefitting from additional allocation is 53
Next Steps:
•
Further promote the opportunities under Circular 0006/2020
•
Continue targeted support for schools
•
Facilitate additional allocation for more schools in the next academic year
•
Conduct a full review of the Additional Allocation Scheme as a means of sustainably embedding more
recently added and lesser taught languages in the school and supporting diversification of provision
- PPLI ANNUAL REPORT 2023 -
67
