The French Government has honoured the head teachers of Wandsworth’s first bilingual school with an award founded by Napoleon.
The French Government has honoured the head teachers of Wandsworth’s first bilingual school with an award founded by Napoléon.
Marc Wolstencroft, Headteacher at Wix Primary School, and Paul-Marie Blanchard, Director at Ecole de Wix, were awarded the Ordre des Palmes Académiques (Order of Academic Palms) at a special ceremony at the joint school in Battersea.
The Ordre is a decoration Napoléon originally used to honour eminent members of the University of Paris.
It is now awarded by France’s Minister of Education to recognise schools and academics for their contributions to the teaching and dissemination of the French language and culture.
The head teachers were presented with the Ordre’s Chevalier grade – represented by a medallion worn on a ribbon on the left breast – by Laurent Burin des Roziers, Cultural Counsellor at the French Embassy in London and Director at the French Institute.
Mr Wolstencroft said: “It was a terrifically proud moment for us and a formal recognition of the quality of the teamwork between the French and English teachers, Wandsworth Council and the French Cultural Attaché who make the bilingual classes work so well.”
Mr Blanchard added: “Our joint project has been a terrific success both socially and academically – and Wix now has an international reputation for its pioneering partnership.”
Wix officially became the first state school in England to introduce a French bilingual stream in September 2005, after forming a partnership with the Lycée Charles de Gaulle in South Kensington – enabling local children to become fluent in the language at an early age.
Ecole de Wix is run by the Lycée Charles de Gaulle from the Wix Primary School building.
Both enter students into the bilingual stream, which follows a special curriculum that meets the statutory requirements of both the UK and French national curriculums.
The English and French pupils in the stream are taught all their subjects in both languages. The school also offers traditional classes to those pupils not adopting a bilingual education – creating what has been dubbed ‘a unique language village’.
Councillor Kathy Tracey, Wandsworth’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “This is a wonderful achievement for both men, who have been inspirational head teachers.
“Working with the council, they have demonstrated a clear desire to give the younger generation the best possible start in life through new and exciting educational opportunities.”
