The project, which has been running since January, has involved 14 Oxford
University students visiting five Oxford schools for weekly French and German
lessons. The project is part of the Aimhigher national campaign to raise school students' attainment and aspirations.
Bianca Summons, who is studying for a Master’s degree at Lady Margaret Hall,
is running additional French-speaking practice for pupils at Gosford Hill
School in Kidlington. She said: ‘I am taking a smaller group out of their normal lesson and we work through the subjects that are likely to come up in their exams. We've gone through the vocubulary and I've given them a chance to speak French in a one-to-one situation.'
Bianca Summons, Oxford University student
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Her students have taken well to the extra attention. Tyshea Holden, 15, said: 'Because Bianca is younger she can help me with her experience of taking GCSE exams. What I like about being in a smaller group is that I find I'm learning more. It's helped me to be more confident speaking French.'
George Brooks, 15, added: 'I find French quite difficult but the extra lessons have really been helpful.'
Students at Gosford Hill School, Kidlington
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Gosford Hill's head of modern languages, Sandy Yuen, concluded: 'It's great for our students to be working with someone successful from
Oxford University. The students might have thought of the University as
something unattainable, but I think this has given them something to aspire to.
It's proven to be really useful."
The other schools involved in the project are Peers School in Littlemore,
Cheney School in Headington, Oxford Community School in East Oxford and St
Gregory the Great School in Cowley.
