The ALL London January Event 2025

Many many thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of ‘The ALL London January Event 2025’!

Here’s a link to the final programme: ALL Jan 2025 Final programme on the day

Delegates  have access to a private page with downloads of presentations here.  The password was shared via Ticket Tailor communication after the event.

Here is our photo album for the day.  Click to see more.

The ALL January Event 2025

Managing to defy the challenges set by engineering works both underground and overground and the very cold temperatures,  the ‘Saturday morning keenies’ (teachers, managers, ALL corporate sponsors and language institues)   made their way to Harris Academy Bermondsey for an extended morning packed with presentations, displays and the chance to socialise.

So many people contributed to the success of the morning.

The Harris Language consultants team, Nathalie Blondeau, Julien Violette and Mathilde Bouquin  arranged for us to use this great venue by liaising with the generous Headteacher of HAB and the very efficient and helpful Premises Manager, John Parsons, and then went on to prepare  absolutely 2 superb sessions  – one on inspiring  academy-wide competitions run to enthuse learners and another on their detailed approach to the new GCSE.

Adam Lamb  and Catherine Ames  talked about how they were preparing students for the new GCSE.  Adam focussed on the need for teachers to have a thorough understanding of the requirements of the final examinations and the criteria, and Catherine urged us not to forget our overriding aim of developing linguists over the key stages and beyond.

David Blow updated us on the process of the Curriculum and Assessment Review and ALL@s role in this

The representatives of the exam boards, Ian Rodmell and Sadaf Najib for AQA and Rebecca Waker for Edexcel  gave  talks on both the new and the legacy GCSE and were able to answer delegates questions.

Nadine Chadier, Marian Devons and Miriam Paridjanian  coordinated a session for primary colleagues.  Nadine  led a Q&A session to encourage sharing of issues and solutions and present a session on free resources available through the DfE sponsored Oak Academy.  Miriam talked about competitions she has introduced into her school and Marian shared ideas related to her practice and work as a GEM, representing Goethe Institute

Nathalie Blondeau and David Blow  talked about preparing CVs, applications and interviews

Corporate sponsors AQA, Discover the world education, Edexcel and Languagenut along with the Language institutes (Consejería, Goethe, Institut français and Japanese Foundation), provided a great exhibition and raffle prizes.  Many thanks to  Angela Murphy for coordinating this.  We missed Maison Claire Fontaine and Voyager who could not attend at the last minute because of circumstances beyond their control and look forward to seeing them next year.  Thanks to Thisislanguage for their leaflets and to Linguascope for the popular calendars.

The Committee members  did their usual magic of just seeing what needed to be done and doing it: Sarah Hau presided over registration, Mary Heath orchestrated refreshments with Elisena and Peter on hand to help, Antonio da Silva i/c photos (they are great!), Wanda Marshall brightened up our home made signs, Susie Porsz provided human signage (braving the cold!) and our newest committee member, Catherine Ames, expertly took the minutes of the AGM!  Thanks to Fatima for delicious treats which we ate during the AGM! Despite not being able to be there, Richard Margerison handled social media photos and comments.

We look forward to seeing pe0ple at ALL’s national conference ‘Language World‘ 14th + 15th March – a very special one as our own Judith Rifeser is President this year.

Next ALL London event: Saturday 21st June at the Spanish school. Follow us on our social media channels and watch this page for details.  Also, please put Saturday 13th January 2026 at the BFI in your diaries for our next January Event!  Thank you!

Information given prior to the event: