Whilst in most schools the study of languages is in rapid decline, at Clayesmore Modern Languages are thriving: 76% of Year 11 pupils are studying French, German or Spanish for GCSEs, and a large proportion of Sixth Formers are taking an A-Level language.

Testament to Clayesmorians’ love of language learning is the Languages Live Lounge, now in its fifth year, which recently drew a crowd of fifty or so linguists (plus a few friends) to enjoy music and continental conversation in the Sixth Form common room, more akin to a Spanish tapas bar or a Eurovision rehearsal that night. Mr Howard Smith, Clayesmore’s Head of German, reports:

“In a nation where we often describe ourselves as being 'bad at languages' and where decline in entries for Modern Language GCSEs and A-Levels hits the headlines every August, it is refreshing to find such a cosmopolitan atmosphere in the midst of rural Dorset.

“It would seem Clayesmorians are at ease with their second and third languages: if you open any door in the Modern Foreign Languages department, you will hear a buzz of pupils practising. It is no wonder languages are thriving at Clayesmore, with over twenty students in the Lower Sixth alone taking an A-Level language.

And it wasn’t just French, German and Spanish represented at the Live Lounge: Luke (Y13) who, sporting a blue and yellow horned helmet hat, was singing in rapid-fire Swedish, backed up by two German A-Level students. Whilst for the backing singers it was a short foray into Scandinavian languages, Luke has been learning Swedish in his own time and plans to visit a language school in Sweden in the summer. The room was packed with confident world citizens. 'Can we do this again soon?' they asked.”

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