Statement of Curriculum Intent

Students learning French, German or Spanish will acquire deep-rooted knowledge of their studied language and culture.

They will demonstrate considerable resilience and independence whilst developing their language skills in the four areas of writing, listening, speaking and reading. This knowledge will equip them with practical, applicable, relevant and invaluable language skills, which are much sort after by employers in the UK and beyond.

By developing an understanding of the culture studied, students will understand the importance of challenging stereotypes and prejudices.

This means:

• Being able to understand and provide information and opinions about specific themes relating to the students’ own experiences and those of other people, including people in countries/communities where these languages are spoken.
• Being able to understand and respond to different types of spoken language.
• Communicating and interacting effectively in speech for a variety of purposes, with each other in group work and pair work.
• Understanding and responding to different types of written language.
• Communicating effectively in writing for a variety of purposes.
• Having the opportunity to visit the country of the language studied, on the French, German or Spanish student exchange, in order to widen horizons and broaden mindsets.

KEY STAGE 3

KS3 builds on the language skills that students have acquired in primary school. The emphasis is on the four key skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking.

In Year 8 students who love languages have the opportunity to spend a week in June in either Germany, France or Spain.

In Year 10 students are offered the opportunity to take part in an exchange trip to Germany or Spain.

Key Stage 4

The schemes of work in KS4 are devised to develop skills acquired in KS3. The MFL department follows the AQA GCSE curriculum, which covers a wide range of topics with an increased emphasis on cultural aspects in life in French -, German- and Hispanic-speaking countries. So as well as learning the language, the students are exposed to cultural, historical and geographical themes. The 9 themes covered are: Me, my family and friends, Technology in everyday life, Free-time activities, Customs and festivals, Home, town and neighbourhood, Social issues, Global issues, Travel and tourism and Education and future employment.

We are very proud to be one of only five PASCH Schools in Great Britain. This partnership with the Goethe Institut means that German learners in all year groups benefit from additional opportunities funded by the Goethe Institut to enhance their German studies. Students have benefitted from football camps and summer camps in Germany, they have visited exhibitions and taken part in events promoting the value of learning German.

Statement of Curriculum Intent

Students of Japanese will acquire deep-rooted knowledge of the Japanese language and culture.  They will demonstrate considerable resilience and independence whilst developing their language skills in the four areas of writing, listening, speaking and reading.  This knowledge will equip them with practical, applicable, relevant and invaluable language skills, which are much sort after by employers in the UK and beyond.  By developing an understanding of Japanese culture, students will understand the importance of challenging stereotypes and prejudices.

This means:

• Being able to understand and provide information and opinions about specific themes relating to the students’ own experiences and those of other people, including people in countries/communities where Japanese is spoken.
• Being able to understand and respond to different types of spoken language.
• Communicating and interacting effectively in speech for a variety of purposes, with each other in group work and pair work as well as with the Japanese teacher.
• Understanding and responding to different types of written language.
• Communicating effectively in writing for a variety of purposes.
• Being provided with the opportunity to contact a school in Japan, in order to widen horizons and broaden mindsets. 

Statement of Curriculum Intent

Students of Mandarin will acquire deep-rooted knowledge of the Mandarin language and culture. They will demonstrate considerable resilience and independence whilst developing their language skills in the four areas of writing, listening, speaking and reading. This knowledge will equip them with practical, applicable, relevant and invaluable language skills, which are much sort after by employers in the UK and beyond. By developing an understanding of Chinese culture, students will understand the importance of challenging stereotypes and prejudices.

This means:

• Being able to understand and provide information and opinions about specific themes relating to the student’s own experiences and those of other people, including people in countries/communities where Mandarin is spoken.
• Being able to understand and respond to different types of spoken language.
• Communicating and interacting effectively in speech for a variety of purposes, with each other in group work and pair work as well as with the Mandarin teacher.
• Understanding and responding to different types of written language.
• Communicating effectively in writing for a variety of purposes.
• Being provided with the opportunity to contact a school in China, in order to widen horizons and broaden mindsets.

Curious About the Curriculum?

Discover something new about Spanish here.

Discover something new about French here.

Discover something new about German here.

Discover something new about Japanese here.