Department Introduction:
• All pupils study French in Year Seven. In Year Eight pupils begin a second foreign language and are placed in German or Spanish groups. Alternatively students who have successfully completed a taster course at the end of Year Seven may opt to study Mandarin Chinese. In Year Nine all students continue to study the two languages already started.
• At KS4 all students continue to study at least one foreign language out of French, German ,Spanish and Mandarin Chinese.
• In the Sixth Form pupils can study French, German and Spanish to AS and A2 level. Additionally pupils can follow a GCSE course in Mandarin or in Italian.
• All language classrooms are equipped with interactive white-boards, networked resources and internet access. Pupils also have access to a newly equipped ICT suite.
Key Stage 3:
• At KS3 we aim to promote confident, enjoyable use of the four language learning skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. We aim to base this on a sound and accurate knowledge of grammatical structures.
• A whole variety of resources are used including the text books Equipe and Tricolore (French) , Logo (German) and Listos (Spanish) as well as a variety of on-line resources and DVDs.
• Pupils’ creativity and independence are encouraged by a whole variety of activities and projects.
Key Stage 4:
All pupils must opt for one two year full GCSE course in French, German, and Spanish (AQA board ) or Mandarin(Edexcel) at KS4 and strong linguies are encouraged to opt for two.
The courses build on and develop the language skills and the grammatical knowledge taught at KS3.
These courses aim:
• to give pupils a clear knowledge of how language works
• to foster clear and effective communication
• to offer insights into a different culture
• to equip students for contacts for foreign countries
Syllabi:
(French)
(German)
(Spanish)
(Mandarin Chinese )
Key Stage 5:
Sixth Form students can currently study French, German and Spanish at AS and A2 level. And Italian and Mandarin are offered as two year GCSE courses.
AS and A2 students are timetabled for weekly conversation and support sessions with a native Foreign Language Assistant.
Course build on the aims and methodology of earlier Key Stages. Further aims are:
• to promote a high level of competence in both written ad spoken language.
• to enable students to study languages at university or to combine the study of a language with another subject.
Syllabus:
The AS course will cover:
• Media: TV, advertising and communication technology
• Popular culture: cinema, music and fashion/trends
• Healthy living/lifestyle: sport/exercise, health and well-being and holidays
• Family/relationships: relationships within the family, friendships and marriage/partnerships.
•
The A2 course will cover:
• Environment: pollution, energy and protecting the planet
• The multi-cultural society: immigration, integration and racism
• Contemporary social issues: wealth and poverty, law and order and the impact of scientific and technological progress
• Cultural topic: the study of a target language speaking region or the study of a period of 20th century history or of a novelist/dramatist/poet from a target language-speaking country
The AS and A2 specifications has 4 units:
Unit 1/3: Listening, Reading and Writing (70%)
Unit 2/4: Speaking Test (30%)
Enrichment:
We offer many visits and exchanges so our students can put their learning into practice.
Sixth form students are also regularly involved in supporting the teaching of French in several local primary schools.
Students are encouraged to participate in local and national competition in the languages taught.