BORROWDALE

TOWN LANE

WOODBURY

EX5 1NH

DEVON

email:

October 2016

Dear Colleague

For over twenty years, ISMLA has facilitated discussion among modern languages departments in independent secondary schools, providing a forum for modern language teachers to meet, share ideas and inform themselves about developments in teaching and learning. We currently have around 160 members. Although we have a few Prep Schools as part of the membership, we would very much like to expand this number. To this end we are offering this year all Prep Schools to become embers of ISMLA for a reduced rate of only £10as we are aware that many departments have very small budgets which has possibly been a deterrent to taking out membership. (Normal membership for secondary schools is £50)

The benefits of current membership include:

  • A termly newsletter with articles written by language teachers in independent schools and universities, reviews of resources, and relevant news items. Past editions of the newsletter can be found at:
  • An annual national conference, held alternately in London and another part of the country; in 2016 it took place at Manchester Grammar School where members attended talks and presentations of value to practitioners as well as a substantial exhibition by publishers of MFL materials. 2017’s conference will be at Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys, Elstree, North London.
  • A free facility for member schools to advertise new jobs on the ISMLA website and for anyone to search them.
  • An annual teachers’ day with a specific language focus. (Please see our website for details).
  • Representation through the committee of the views of independent school linguists to national bodies such as awarding bodies, the Department for Education and HMC.
  • Subsidies to facilitate regional meetings and INSET for member schools.

PATRONS

A.S. Pettitt MA (Headmaster, Highgate School)S. Corns MA, FRSA (Headmaster, QEGS, Blackburn)

P.B. Hamilton MA (Headmaster, Haberdashers’ Aske’s boys)H. Myers (Assistant Head, Ashcombe School, Dorking)

ISMLA IS SPONSORED BY

  • Funding for inter-school language learning events such as drama and debating competitions
  • Access to a members’ Facebook group for facilitating discussion and sharing of ideas, as well as regular ‘tweeting’ through Twitter to help members keep up to date.
  • Access to a monitoring scheme with linguist senior managers for those members with aspirations to move onto a senior management role.

The subscription rate of £10 will entitle membership for September 2016 until 2017. Payment is by BACS or cheque. Details of BACS payments are shown on a separate flyer for the use of the bursary or finance office.

Please fill in and return the membership form, either by email or post to the addresses shown.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Julia Whyte (Membership Secretary)