Modern Foreign Languages
Curriculum intent statement:
To inspire curiosity about other languages and cultures around the globe, so that students develop greater communication skills for their future personal and professional lives.
Curriculum features and principles:
As from September 2026, pupils in Year 7 learn French. Year 8 and year 9 continue their chosen language, which they can opt to continue at GCSE.
Students follow a broad curriculum at key stage 3, which provides a strong foundation of knowledge and skills, allowing students to grow in confidence throughout the course.
The department uses the Pearson Dynamo and Viva digital course at KS3 and the Edexcel French or AQA Spanish digital course at KS4.
Key Stage 3 French Curriculum Plan
Year 7
- All about me and my family; Phonics
- School and free time
- Sporting activities; Home life; Tour de France
Year 8
- Food and Meals; Describing a weekend (near future);
- Holidays and a virtual visit to Paris (past tense); Festivals and going out
- Digital life and media
Year 9
- My region; Daily routine; sport, fitness and healthy lifestyle
- Extra-curricular activities; Jobs and future career plans
- The world around us; Environmental and human rights issues
Key Stage 3 Spanish Curriculum Plan
Year 7
- All about me and my family; Phonics
- Free time and weather; Sporting activities
- School; Family and physical descriptions
Year 8
- My local area
- Holidays and travel
- Free time and media and technology
- Food and drink
Year 9:
- Hobbies , films, daily routine
- The world of work and discussing future plans
- Fitness and healthy lifestyle, giving advice
- Children’s rights, environmental issues and fair trade
Key Stage 4 Curriculum Plan – French and Spanish
The new specification (from September 2026) provides breadth, stretch and challenge and promotes culture, communication, and connection. It enables students to show what they know, understand, and can do through tests covering the whole ability range.
Exam board:
French – Edexcel Spanish – AQA
FRENCH:
All examination questions will be set in the context of the following six topic areas:
- My personal world
- Lifestyle and wellbeing
- My neighbourhood
- Media and technology
- Studying and my future
- Travel and tourism
Assessment:
- Paper 1: speaking exam (25%) Read aloud, Role-Play and picture task.
- Paper 2: listening exam (25%) Listening and understanding, and dictation.
- Paper 3: reading exam (25%) Native texts with answers in English, and translation.
- Paper 4: writing exam (25%) creative, spontaneous responses of different lengths and translation task.
SPANISH:
All examination questions will be set in the context of the following three main topic areas:
- People and Lifestyle
- Popular culture
- Communication and the world around us
Assessment:
- Paper 1: Listening exam (25%) Listening and understanding, and dictation.
- Paper 2: Speaking exam (25%) A Role play, read aloud, photo task and conversation
- Paper 3: reading exam (25%) Native texts with answers in English, and translation.
- Paper 4: writing exam (25%) creative, spontaneous responses of different lengths and translation task.
Spiritual, Moral, Social or Cultural Opportunities
Across Years 7 to 13, the French and Spanish syllabi try in many ways to develop awareness of how people should have freedom to practice religious beliefs, to promote tolerance and acceptance for all religions, and people in Britain who contribute to the British culture.
It also enables students to explore different views and have access to a completely new world learning about music, cultural history, friendship and healthy relationships, internet safety and cyberbullying, health and wellbeing, education, work-related learning, British culture, world cultures, immigration, racism, etc. people you would never have met.
Most Able Opportunities/Support
All sets in French and Spanish are stretched academically using the higher edition of Dynamo text books and supplementary teacher resources. By the time they reach GCSE the majority of the students have been taught beyond the requirements of the GCSE syllabus both in grammar and vocabulary.
Special Educational Needs and Disability Opportunities/Support
- High-quality teaching
- Differentiated work and assessment
- Personalized worksheet if needed
- Seating plan to suit needs and abilities
- Exam Access Arrangements with extra time for KS4 and KS5
- Additional intervention and support with TA
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