Glasgow Times

School commended in national competitio­n

- Taylor Murray taylor. murray@ newsquest. co. uk

PUPILS at a Paisley school have been commended for their “attitude to modern languages” after coming runners up in a national competitio­n.

Seven youngsters from S4 and S5 at Mary Russell School helped secure the position after their teacher, Laura Muir, signed them up to compete in a national French competitio­n with the Institut Francais in Edinburgh.

The education hub, for people with additional support needs ( ASN), discovered many pupils were fond of learning a new language.

The competitio­n – called Concours de la Francophon­ie – saw entries from schools across the board, including private schools.

Laura, who started working at the Paisley establishm­ent nearly three years ago, said she appreciate­d the judges’ understand­ing.

She said: “This is a huge achievemen­t for these kids. Even speaking French is amazing.

“I sent [ the competitio­n entry] off and I told them we’re an ASN school and gave them some background.

“I was just glad because you send these things off and it is hard for them to fully understand what the pupils are like.

“Especially if they’ve been getting videos from private schools and stuff like that. “We’re not that calibre.

“I’m glad they saw the French that they’re doing is the level that we can work at, and the kids really love the language and the culture and are so enthusiast­ic.”

Earlier this month, a representa­tive from the judging panel attended the Renfrewshi­re school to congratula­te them on their achievemen­t and to award them with some prizes that would go to helping future French classes.

The prizes consisted of a number of French textbooks along with a board game in French for the class to play.

Laura said she was very pleased for everyone and hopes this is a sign to others out there that modern languages are a vital subject for everyone.

She said: “I’m obviously really happy for them because it is an achievemen­t.”

Charlotte Hyvernaud, who helped judge the entries and attended the school, said she was “really impressed” with the pupils’ interactio­n with French and enjoyed seeing them learn about a new culture.

Liam Coyle, headteache­r at the school, said: “I think in Mary Russell our children are deserving of every opportunit­y that any child would have in another school.

“I think what we always find is when we give those opportunit­ies to our pupils they always step up to it.

“They always give their best and they always achieve their best.

“It is brilliant to see this achievemen­t in this subject and it is thanks to Mrs Muir and the work she puts in.”

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