French Ambassador honours Shaftesbury Park Primary School for exceptional French language provision

The LabelFrancÉducation recognises schools outside France who contribute to the promotion of French language and culture, and in 2018, Shaftesbury Park became the first school in the UK to ever receive the prestigious award.

Council Leader Councillor Simon Hogg visited the school to witness this special moment, as the accreditation, awarded by the French Foreign Ministry, reaffirms the school’s dedication to exceptional French language education.

Council Leader Councillor Simon Hogg applauded the exceptional dedication of the Shaftesbury Park community: “This recognition is a testament to the unwavering passion of the school’s teachers and the resilience of its students, who excel in their bilingual education. It was an honour to visit Shaftesbury Park and celebrate its position as a beacon of French learning, not just in our local community but internationally as well.”

Shaftesbury Park introduced its pioneering bilingual stream in 2013, creating an immersive French language education programme that spans from nursery to year six. This unique offering enables all students, regardless of their home language, to develop French proficiency progressively. By the time they complete their primary education at age 11, many students have successfully achieved the A2 certificate from the DELF (Diplôme d'Études en Langue Française), a significant milestone equivalent to a strong GCSE pass. Additionally, the school serves as a registered DELF exam centre, supporting families in navigating these important assessments.

The school has also established enriching partnerships with Francophone schools worldwide (schools which teach French as a first language), offering students broader cultural experiences and fostering a global perspective.

Bunmi Richards, Head Teacher at Shaftesbury Park Primary School, says: “I am immensely proud that our school has received its second reaccreditation of the LabelFrancÉducation, presented by the French Ambassador. This recognition celebrates a decade of our commitment to delivering a high-quality bilingual curriculum. I am deeply grateful to our dedicated staff and governors who have worked tirelessly to develop an exceptional bilingual learning experience for our children. We are indeed preparing them for a globalised world, equipping them with skills and cultural awareness that will last a lifetime.”

James Cousins, Chair of Governors, highlighted the significance of this achievement: “Our bilingual stream was the foundation for our exciting vision to develop children who think about their world, expand their world, and change their world. The renewal of the LabelFrancÉducation reflects both the invaluable support of the Institut Français and the exceptional work of our staff in delivering on that vision and setting up our pupils for linguistic, cultural, and academic success for years to come."

Wandsworth Council is proud of Shaftesbury Park Primary School’s commitment to innovative, language-rich education that not only transforms the future of its students but also strengthens international cultural ties.