Curriculum and Assessment

Key Stage 3 Curriculum

All students in KS3 studyeither French or Spanish.

Year 7

September 2010 saw a change in our provision for Year 7 as all pupils began studying onelanguage instead of two. The rationale behind this was to give all pupils a firmer grounding in one language which would increase enjoyment and heighten their sense of achievement. It is also hoped that this change will yield much better resultsby the end of Key Stage 3 and, should the pupil continue with the language, at Key Stage 4.

Since September 2010, all pupils in Year 7 have hadfour lessons in either French or Spanishover the two week timetable.

Year 8

Pupils in Year 8 continue with the language they studied in Year 7.

They have four lessons over the two week timetable.

Year 9

Pupils in Year 9 continue to study the language they studied throughout Years 7 and 8.

They have four lessons over the two week timetable.

The following textbooks are used at KS3:-

French: Studio 1, 2 and 3

Spanish: ilanguages and Mira 2 and 3

Key Stage 3 Assessment

Assessment 1 / Listening and Writing Module Test / To be completed by end Autumn 1
Assessment 2 / Reading and Speaking Module Test / To be completed by end Spring1
Assessment 3 / End of Year Test / To be completed by end Summer 1

The timetable ensures one formal assessment takes place per term.

Assessment will be based on the most recent module covered, in line with the Scheme of Work.

Each skill area will be assessed over the course of the year under test conditions. However, private study and classroom-based activities also, of course, allow for assessment opportunities.

Results will be sent to the Assistant Curriculum Team Leader as National Curriculum sub-levels. These will be collated and compared to each pupil’s target grade for the end of the year and Key Stage.

At the end of Year 9, pupils who have chosen to study a language at GCSE will start the revision work for the new course.

At the end of Autumn 2, Spring 2 and Summer 2, the completion of special projects will take place to increase pupils’ intercultural awareness of the countries in which the language they study is spoken.

Key Stage 4 Curriculum

Pupils can opt to continue their study in either French or Spanish in Key Stage 4.

Pupils have five language lessons over the two week timetable.

The courses studied and taught at GCSE are AQA French and Spanish. Some pupils choose to sit exams in their home language at this stage also.

The department uses the Nelson Thornes AQA GCSE textbooks which are supplemented by Kerboodle online resources.

Content Overview

Lifestyle / Health
  • Healthy and unhealthy lifestyles and their consequences
Relationships and choices
  • Relationships with family and friends
  • Future plans regarding marriage/partnership
  • Social issues and equality

Leisure / Free time and the media
  • Free time activities
  • Shopping, money, fashion and trends
  • Advantages and disadvantages of new technology
Holidays
  • Plans, preferences, experiences
  • What to see and getting around

Home and Environment / Home and Local Area
  • Special occasions celebrated in the home
  • Home, town, neighbourhood and region, where it is and what it is like
Environment
  • Current problems facing the planet
  • Being environmentally friendly within the home and the local area

Work and Education / School/College and future plans
  • What school/college is like
  • Pressures and problems
Current and future jobs
  • Looking for and getting a job
  • Advantages and disadvantages of different jobs

Assessment Overview

Unit 1 (Listening) / Examination
Foundation Tier: 30 mins + 5 mins reading time
Higher Tier: 40 mins + 5 mins reading time / 20%
Unit 2 (Speaking) / Controlled Assessment (internally assessed)
Two tasks submitted for moderation / 30%
Unit 3 (Reading) / Examination
Foundation Tier: 30 minutes
Higher Tier: 50 minutes / 20%
Unit 4 (Writing) / Controlled Assessment (externally assessed)
Two tasks submitted for marking / 30%

Pupils may be entered for either the Foundation or Higher Tier in the Listening and Reading examinations but not both.

Controlled Assessments

Year 10

Writing Assessment / Speaking Assessment
1 / 1
French / End of Spring 1 / End of Summer 2
Spanish / End of Spring 1 / End of Summer 2

Year 11

Writing Assessment / Speaking Assessment
2 / 2
French / End of Autumn 1 / End of Spring 2
Spanish / End of Autumn 1 / End of Spring 2

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