Petition for the preservation of the bilingual stream

I definitely want the bilingual stream to represent the two systems wh Ch is a think the best for our children. Thanks.

I sincerely hope the bilingual track will be kept at Wix as it is a great opportunity for children to broaden their horizon and become better global citizens. Being exposed to different languages and cultures at a young age is essential in this globalised world we live in. It can only be an advantage not a disadvantage as some have started to believe post unfortunate populist movements of late.

I had the opportunity to join a class trip a couple of months ago with the bilingual stream and to have a couple of children involved in this curriculum coming at home and I have been amazed by the agility these children have to switch from one language to the other, to adapt to different cultures. As the week goes by it is fascinating to see them adapt their behavior and their way of thinking to the schooling they are getting on that day, either French or English. I work in an international company surrounded by people who have lived in different countries and cultures, but I have never seen such adaptability and agility across cultures, and it is skill that we need to nurture. The bilingual stream is a unique chance and asset for our children. Instead of thinking of closing it, I believe the conversation should be around expanding it and increasing its reach. Why not offer it to Belleville Academy as well? Why not offer the opportunity of increased English classes to the French side, and French classes to the English side? When we have joined events the cultures mix nicely and the children adapt easily from all sides. In a world that is getting more narrow-minded every day, giving our children this bi-cultural approach is a unique chance that as adult we have a responsibility to protect. Mr Grove, Wix and Belleville Academy administration, Lycee Francais administration, thank you for hearing us, and please get the wider community involved to sort it out, it is OUR problem as much as yours.

Keeping the bilingual stream is vital from both cultural and community point of views.

My children have been in the school since reception and one of the reasons we chose WIX is because of the bilingual section. In the world we live in, it is important and such a gift to be able to speak 2 languages. Thinking in 2 languages has been proven that your brain works much better and much quicker. It is a real pity that the 2 managements (French and English) of the school can't agree on anything at the moment and that our children are taken as hostages because of this conflict. Wix bilingual has been a REAL success for many years and the arrival of Mr Grove has ruined absolutely everything. Let's hope Mr Grove will finally start to get some common sense and think of the positives Wix Bilingual.

My children having had the immense privilege of being part of the bilingual stream section at Wix Primary over the past 8 years, I fully support for this bilingual stream to remain jointly delivered in a spirit of cooperation by Belleville Wix Academy and the French Lycée. It has been immensely successful for our children so far. I trust a solution will be swiftly sought to ensure the continuity of this too rare truly bilingual education at Belleville Wix Academy and the French Lycee for both the children already enrolled in the stream and for the children wishing to join in the many years to come.

such a bad news.... as parents how can we choose between french and english? ... it was already so hard to get in the school... i guess there is enough clever and smart people in both administration to find a way of working together....hope so...

specially in this climate of Brexit, it is all the more important that collaborative projects like the bilingual stream at Belleville Wix academy be preserved!

Please continue the bilingual stream. It’s the only reason our children go to this school. We will take them elsewhere. Don’t limit their opportunities through administrative issues and closed minds

It is totally unacceptable that our children and their education are badly impacted by the unjustified mistrust and misunderstanding between the Lycée Français and Wix Academy . I also found it disturbing that we, parents, have not been informed along the way. For the sake of our kids and their futures, we call on both sides to show some responsible attitudes to, not only preserve the success of the Bilingual stream, but only also to take it to the next level. Please stop the mistrust and work constructively together to bridge the gap between the two of you . This infighting would be serving no-cause and could harm the futures of our children. You should be working together instead. Our children value the bi-cultural culture and they expect both sides to jointly act in their interests. It is a bit of shame that we are all in this position after all. I can't apprehend the fact that both English/French heads could not find a slot to meet to reach common ground over four months! We call on both French/English sides to show some leadership skills as the education (and thus the future) of our children is at stake here.

Please do not jeopardize the future of our bilingual kids! The Bilingual stream is such a chance for them - and for Belleville Wix Academy! My daughter, 6 years old, is aware of the issues and is already so sad and concerned if she has to choose between French and English education. Please hear the parents and find a way to sign a Bilingual Agreement that will work for both Belleville Wix Academy and the Lycee - as well as our kids and us, parents!

please don't let our children be the victims of a sytem that can be improved with everyone's help!

We found out today that Y6 kids at Wix Primary school were not allowed to sit their SATS exams and that the bilingual stream is under huge pressure and threat. Our lives and education choices revolve around the bilingual stream at Wix - it would be a disaster if the bilingual stream was dropped for us personally and for the whole Franco-English community around it. The bilingual stream is a unique and wonderful example of bi-lingual and bi-cultural collaboration. It has proven itself times and times again – the children achieve more academically and benefit hugely from their diverse education. It is a very rare example of integration between social groups and it gives better opportunities to children of all socio-economic backgrounds. More than that and beyond SATS and results, it is a great example of Franco English collaboration. It has taken years of Lycée’s and Wix’s previous heads working together and overcoming many challenges and working through the systems’ differences. It would be very very disappointing if all that good will and good work was reduced to nothing because parties don’t want to compromise. In a way it feels like Brexit all over again!! Wix is unique, very special, and supported by a very active bi-cultural community – the size of the waiting list for bilingual spaces vouches for it! Please don’t kill all this for the sake of getting better SATS results. We also hear that there is a pivotal meeting taking place on 24th May to decide the faith of the bilingual stream– will parents and carers be represented at that meeting? We very much would like to be kept in the loop with further developments.

It is such a shame this fantastic Bilingual Stream is put under pressure and uncertainties. This formidable educational project has absorbed so much positive and ambitious energies over the last 11 years. Could it be stopped so brutally? There must be something to be done. The recent event of the SATS definitively exposes a discrimination at Belleville Wix Academy towards the Bilingual stream, beyond the fact that it reflects a tangible intention to manipulate the results of the SATS - Not sure the Ofsted would appreciate that.

Shame on the Belleville team . This should be raised on the higher grounds . Need to contact MP for area

This incident should have never happened. The worst being how half the class, after having worked so hard towards their Sats -still receiving revision guidances from the teacher on the day before- was told only minutes before kicking time that they could not sit their test and got taken in a different room with no other explanation that “we do not have exam booklets for you guys”. It was hard to find something to reply to my very upset son when he said to me that he so much wanted to do well for the school ...

Not allowing the children to pass the SATS is simply disgusting. Parents were not advised of this change. Children in the SAME class treated differently.

My daughter achieved excellent results at the SATs last year despite being in a bilingual stream (on the English side), it is an important way to assess their progress on the English curriculum. Not sure why the French Lycee pupils should be assessed differently after so many years of excellent cooperation... Both sides have always join their effort to provide the best for our children, it is a shame that decisions are taken so quickly without informing the parents. Should they be part of the English or French side, they all have their children in the same bilingual class.

It is unacceptable that our children have to suffer bad communication between the Lycée français and Wix Academy . Let find a way to fix it for the future years to come. Thank you

Being able to give our children the opportunity to speak two languages is a chance. It will give them an intellectual and cultural advantage. Please don’t break this fantastic bi-lingual / bi-cultural experience.