Philippe

I am French-born but also grew up talking Spanish as my mother was a native speaker. I started teaching in 1971 in Africa as a volunteer for two years and then taught in France in 1973..
I have been teaching in England since January 1976. I have been inspected no fewer than 8 times and on each occasion my performance was praised by HMI and OFSTED inspectors. My students have enjoyed considerable academic success in all the establishments where I was privileged to teach. By way of example I have been teaching in Woking college since January 2015 and all my French and Spanish students have managed to obtain commendable results: this year all my A2 French students (8) obtained high grades A or B and 7 of them exceeded their target grades ie value-added data (Alps) does confirm this. Similar results were obtained in all the schools and sixth form colleges where I taught. Needless to say I can teach children, students and adults as I have taught in secondary schools, sixth form colleges and evening classes.

Tutoring Experience

1976 (January)- Language teacher at Matthew Arnold School
1977- Head of French (scale 2)- Matthew Arnold School
1979- Head of MFL (scale 3)- Matthew Arnold School
1984-1992 Head of MFL and master in charge of rugby (scale 4)- Mathew Arnold School
1993- 1994- Head of MFL at the Royal Naval School
1994- 2013 Head of MFL at Strode's College
1995- 2013 Staff Development Officer
2015- MFL teacher at Woking college

Tutoring Approach

I have devised a great variety of teaching and learning strategies including differentiated activities. i have also promoted customized learning and independent work.

Enclosed extracts from references by my former principal Dr Frank ... (1995-2011), my former vice-principal John ... and two testimonials by colleagues who have observed my lessons and discussed teaching and learning strategies with me.

Principal's reference (extract)
I have known Philippe since 1994 when he joined the staff of Strode’s College as Head of Modern Languages. During my sixteen years as Principal of the College from 1995 until 2011, I worked very closely with him as he continued throughout as the Subject Leader - and great champion - of Modern Languages, but also, from 1995, was the College’s Staff Development Officer. Philippe is a very well qualified language teacher and is absolutely passionate about the value and importance of young people learning languages. He wears this commitment on his sleeve and communicates it with infectious enthusiasm. He is a highly effective teacher, approaching his teaching with complete dedication and commitment, thoroughly planning lessons to provide careful structure, variety and stimulation. His teaching is dynamic and engaging, with a vigour and pace which captivates students. Assessed Lesson Observation grades for his lessons have often been “outstanding”, frequently noting, among other things, the clarity of objectives, the range of activities, the inclusion of group work, attention to key skills, reinforcement of key learning points, the highly positive learning environment and the evident enjoyment on the part of students. Many of the latter have commented on Philippe’s inspirational influence upon them. However, he does not rely on this personal charisma, recognising the importance of students taking responsibility for their own learning, he has over many years now worked extremely hard on the development of learning materials to provide for the needs of students of all abilities within his teaching groups, to stretch the more able and to provide support where it is needed. In the process Philippe has produced a unique resources bank (now a V L E) which has proved enormously beneficial to learning and which never fails to impress visiting professionals. A Polish educationalist visiting in 2011 described her experience in the Modern Languages Department at Strode's, sitting in on Philippe's lessons and viewing the resources he had created, as “life changing”. He is a respected and popular colleague, much admired for the enthusiasm and commitment he brings to everything he does and for his open, friendly and positive approach to students and fellow staff. He is something of a perfectionist, always seeking to improve and to give of his best. He is a man of complete integrity. I recommend him to you without reservation.
Yours sincerely
Dr ...
Principal

Reference by Vice-Principal (extract)
I am delighted to be able to smite. both professionally and personally, in support of Philippe Castagnera.
I am Vice-Principal at this open-access sixth-form College and was part of the appointment panel who selected Philippe for employment in September 1994. (He had previously been Head of Languages in two other institutions, as well as Year Head in one). Our confidence in appointing him to the post here has been more than amply justified over the years. I cannot speak highly enough of him. He is, arguably, one of our best Heads of Department.
To his subject and its teaching he brings unbridled enthusiasm and commitment. Students appreciate and respond to this, holding him in genuine respect and affection. For his part he cannot do enough to help them in their studies, producing excellent examination results. With colleagues in the Department he sets a fine example of professionalism. He has turned the Department round (it had reached a pretty low point), leading, encouraging and organising. Virtually single-handedly he established a pioneering work experience exchange scheme with a Lycée in Pézenas, in the South of France. He is ever ready to support colleagues in their endeavours. He sets himself, and them, high standards and does his best to see these standards are met. He himself is quite modest about his achievements. My guess would be that he finds the internal satisfaction of a “job well done” sufficient for him. In the earlier years he was a sportsman of national standard. having represented his country in Rugby Football. Typically he has never, to my knowledge, made reference to this. except when asked.
Philippe is a tremendous supporter of the College and its aims, his colleagues and students. I cannot speak highly enough of him.
Yours faithfully,
John …
Vice Principal

Testimonial by a senior lecturer
Subject: FW: Visit to Strode's [Scanned]
Dear Philippe,
I would like first and foremost to thank you very much indeed for your wonderful welcome.
As I have to design and deliver an online MA for King’s College French Department – where I will be taking up a new post in September – I am very grateful that you shared your personal and direct expertise on E-Learning with me. I was also specifically impressed by the careful thoughts that went into the building and developing of these resources, as they cover the whole A level programme in French, with carefully chosen documents, interactive activities and pedagogical support of varied kinds: audio-visual documents, podcasts, access to outside links, striking images, all nurturing independent studies. I can see how this could be adapted to a post grad public and I would be delighted if we could collaborate further, as I move into King’s and start the putting together of this degree.
With all my renewed thanks,
Dr
Senior Language Adviser (Royal Holloway University of London)

Testimonial by a Polish colleague (1.05.2012)
Testimonial
My name is Beata and I am undertaking research for the degree of PhD for the UAM University in Poznań. In my dissertation I compare the ways of teaching foreign languages in Polish and British upper secondary schools.
As far as the scope and the tools are concerned, I created questionnaires for foreign language teachers, lesson observation sheet and interview guides and I managed to collect 58 questionnaires, I observed 49 lessons and I took 20 interviews in four Polish and 4 British upper secondary schools including Strode’s College.
Mr Philippe is undisputedly one of the most eminent and outstanding professionals I have met while doing my project. In my opinion Mr Castagnera represent the highest standards of teaching foreign languages and he would be an asset in every school. I feel privileged that I could meet such an inspirational and marvellous professional.
Yours faithfully
Beata