Modern Foreign Languages Curriculum Intent

French:

• Year 7 Curriculum Overview
• Year 8 Curriculum Overview
• Year 9 Curriculum Overview
• Year 10 Curriculum Overview
• Year 11 Curriculum Overview

Spanish:

• Year 7 Curriculum Overview
• Year 8 Curriculum Overview
• Year 9 Curriculum Overview
• Year 10 Curriculum Overview
• Year 11 Curriculum Overview

The department is staffed with two experienced, committed and enthusiastic teachers, one Spanish only and one French and Spanish teacher.

Courses

Key Stage 3

In Year 7, students follow an introductory course in French or Spanish, which gives students a cultural and linguistic insight into the language chosen, which they continue to study until the end of Key Stage 3. Many students enjoy their Language lessons in this Key Stage and at the end of Year 9 choose it as one of their options to study at GCSE.

Year 7 French Grade Descriptors

Year 8 French Grade Descriptors

Year 9 French Grade Descriptors

Year 7 Spanish Grade Descriptors

Year 8 Spanish Grade Descriptors

Year 9 Spanish Grade Descriptors

Key Stage 4

In Years 10 and 11 students follow the GCSE AQA syllabus and are tested at the end of the two-year course with four examinations of equal weighting in Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. We have a long history of excellent examination results. Our GCSE pass rates have consistently been 100% A*-C in both languages, over the past few years.

Organisation and Methods of Assessment

The assessment of students forms an important aspect of the department’s work. Each student’s progress is closely monitored by assessment tests after each unit of teaching against individual targets, and formal records are kept in accordance with school policy. Effective early intervention strategies are used where student achievement is falling below expectations.

Resources

The department is well stocked with texts, worksheets and other teaching materials, including computer and multimedia resources. The Languages department’s resources are designed to support the students to strengthen the skills they need, such as translation and understanding authentic and literary texts, and help them understand what is expected of them in the new GCSE (9-1) assessments.

Other resources available include electronic whiteboards in each classroom, and a class set of wireless laptops. There is a wide range of software installed on the school network.

Extra-curricular Activities

The MFL department organise day trips to France as well as cultural, language- based day trips in London. These enable students to practise their Spanish and French in real life situations. Both during European Day of Languages and throughout the year, our Language Ambassadors promote language learning by running all sort of fun events such as French and Spanish inspired food and art workshops.