About Modern Foreign Languages
What will students learn and experience through Languages lessons?
MFL is a small but vibrant department, who is keen to engage our students in learning languages. We believe that, in our local context, languages are a challenge but can enrich the lives of all our students and most likely inspire exciting careers for most of them.
We intend to deliver languages to all KS3 students, differentiating according to their abilities and making the language experience as ambitious and authentic as possible. In addition we offer cultural experiences which will challenge the mindset of our students. This, we are determined, will create curiosity in the subject. So much so, that we hope to motivate increased uptake at GCSE.
Given the small size of the department, we are very pro-active in making and maintaining links with other MFL departments in the County. Thus we inspire each other and share good practise to the benefit of our students.
Teaching a mix of French/German or French/Spanish from year7, we feel, is the best way for students to find a language they will pursue at GCSE. Most students should find an affinity with one or other Language, or even two of them. We intend to grow engaged linguists, such that we can ensure an increased uptake at A-level, and later at university level – post-Brexit Britain needs linguists!
Curriculum Structure
In Year 7, students are taught Languages in mixed abilty tutor groups until setting takes place at the end of the Autumn term. Languages groups are the same as for English and Humanities subjects.
All students in Year 7 will study French. Two classes will study German as a second language and the other two classes Spanish which has been introduced in the 2020-21 academic year. This means that all students are offered the opportunity to study two Languages in Year 7. Each Language is allocated three periods each timetable cycle.
In Year 8, all students progress with at least one Language. The two top sets continue to study both French and German, continuing to receive three periods each timetable cycle for each langauge. The other two sets study French for 3 lessons a timetable cycle and then 3 additional English lessons. We hope to continue to grow Spanish as a Language as the students who have begun to study it this year move into Years 8 & 9.
In Year 9 for this academic year, all students will study at least one Language. As with Year 8, the two top sets continue to study both French and German with three periods each timetable cycle for each language. The other two sets study either French or German for 3 lessons a timetable cycle and then 3 additional English lessons.
As you can appreciate, the Languages curriculum is in a period of evolution and we aim to be adaptable to the needs of each year group.
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