Winner of Primary Language Teacher Award announced

• 5 Stars

Janet Mair of Neroche Primary School in Ilminster, Somerset wins national award to recognise the best in primary language teaching

This year’s winner Janet Mair with Baroness Walmsley

Now in its third year Scholastic and La Jolie Ronde decided to launch this award from a shared desire to recognise and celebrate the very best in language teaching taking place in primary schools across the UK.

Janet Mair of Ilminster in Somerset was the overall winner and chosen from four finalists who attended a ceremony at The House Of Lords on the 16 November 2010.

On receiving the award Janet said: “I suppose I, like the other finalists, really wasn’t expecting to win. It’s such an honour for me but I’d really like to thank Lesley Hooper who until recently headed up language teaching in Somerset LA. Without people like Lesley championing primary language we wouldn’t have been able to do the things we have done in Somerset”.

Lesley Hooper nominated two of this year’s finalists and recently lost her job in local authority cuts. She said Janet deserved to win because “she is like a breath of fresh air and has a lasting impact on both colleagues and children with whom she works.”

The other worthy finalists were:

• Danielle Dion-Jones, from St James’s RC Primary School, Twickenham, Middlesex teaches French through Drama to children from nursery to year 6.

• Laura Tullock, from Western Community Primary School, Tyne and Wear embeds languages across the whole curriculum and has created materials to teach Geography, Art, Science and Music in French.

• Maggie McNulty from Hinton St George First School, Somerset embeds languages across the whole curriculum and uses raps, games and physical activity to support learning and retention of phrases, lyrics and specific vocabulary.

At the award ceremony the Baroness Joan Walmsley, Liberal Democrat Spokesman on Education, Families and Young People, said: “I am delighted to be here to support the teaching of something that encourages face-to-face communication and broadens children’s horizons”.

Janet teaches Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) to all pupils at Neroche Primary School on Broadway in Ilminster, Somerset, where she has been teaching for the past four years. Fluent in French, German, Spanish and Italian, Janet embraces language teaching in a totally cross-curricular way, using storytelling and singing to make language learning fun.

Very young children can hold conversations with each other and some even order for their whole family in foreign restaurants! She has organised whole school international projects throughout this year, run Local Authority training events, been extremely active in supporting colleagues as well as other schools and has inspired other teachers to teach primary languages themselves.

The teaching for foreign languages is already a high priority for teachers and schools, but it is sometimes hard for teachers to find the best way to approach foreign language teaching, particularly if they don’t have a background in languages themselves. The Primary Language Teacher Award aims to inspire and to build confidence in language teaching in all primary schools.

Geoff Swinn, Education Consultant and Chair of Judging Panel, said: “Janet was a most deserved winner and we were very impressed with her, as we were with the high standard of all the entries. Janet has been the driving force behind the implementation of primary languages in her area. Her passion for languages and intercultural understanding means that she opens up the world for children and inspires them to be passionate about languages too.

Janet wins an all expenses paid two-day trip to Northern France for up to 30 children and five teachers. She will also receive more than £1000 of La Jolie Ronde resources and £1000 of Scholastic books, plus a framed certificate, a Scholastic Modern Foreign Languages book and a Scholastic magazine subscription of her choice.

At the award Alan Hurcombe said: “We are delighted to have joined with La Jolie Ronde to celebrate excellence in language teaching. This year’s entries have been amazing and we have been excited and encouraged by teachers’ enthusiasm and determination to embrace and support language learning with primary aged children.”

Colette Halam congratulated the finalists: “Many, many congratulations to our winner this year, Janet Mair, and all our finalists. You love the subject you are teaching and are passionate about ensuring the children get positive experiences. You are all brilliant!”