1998 January: Modern languages top the agenda at West Swindon schools

What goes comes around. The government announced in January 2018 that it was setting up 35 centres around the country to increase the number of children learning modern foreign languages.

But the January 1998 Link magazine reported that Year 5 children from primary schools across West Swindon were about to start trial after-school classes run by the language department at Greendown Community School. Teacher Eileen Mochan said the classes would emphasise speaking and listening with the aim of building confidence in preparation for secondary school.

Pictured: Young language pupils from Freshbook, Shaw Rige, Windmill Hill, Toothill, Westlea, Oliver Tomkins, Salt Way and Brook Field Primary Schools with Greendown teacher Eileen Mochan, rear left