New ecole opens its doors
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
08/09/2008
The headteacher of the new ecole in Fulham has spoken of her joy as the school opened its doors for the first time earlier this week (Monday September 8).
Based on the site of the former Peterborough School on Clancarty Road, the site is being leased to the French government so it can expand its primary education offer.
More than four per-cent of children in Hammersmith & Fulham are from French families and the new fee-paying ecole means they will be able to gain education in the borough rather than travelling to the South Kensington ecole.
Speaking exclusively to H&F News, headteacher of the ecole, Carine Capel said: “This is only the second bilingual school in Britain and will bring the French and English education systems closer still. This model of bilingual teaching will improve our pupils linguistic and cognitive abilities while at the same time providing them with cultural openings. Our aim is to enable pupils (50% of whom will be from each nationality) to achieve comparable competencies in both languages.”
The council aims to use the new ecole as a catalyst to offer local children bilingual places in the state system in the future. It is also planned that the ecole will assist local primary schools who are now required to teach a modern foreign language, with most in the area planning to teach French.
Mrs Capel added: “Bilingual teaching is not a case of simply learning a language. It is a case of teaching through the medium of that language. We will support the pupils so that they learn the new language in a natural and direct manner.”
Cllr Antony Lillis, cabinet member for community and children’s services, said: “This is an exciting time for education in the borough and we look forward to developing close ties with the French. I am delighted that the ecole has now opened and wish the pupils, staff and parents all the best for the future.”
