Modern Foreign Languages

Subject Overview

As from September 2024, pupils in Year 7 learn either French or Spanish. This new initiative will be driven forward up to GCSE. Year 7 pupils are taught in mixed ability groups then in set-ability groups from year 8.

We aim for our students to begin working towards their GCSE skills from Year 7 onwards. They develop their extended writing and speaking skills and work on all GCSE topics at a foundation level to prepare them to begin the GCSE course in Year 10.

The department uses the Pearson Dynamo and Viva digital course at KS3 and the Edexcel French or 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

Assessment

Details of assessment criteria for Key Stage 3 can be found here.

 

Key Stage 4 Curriculum Plan – French and Spanish

The new specification (from September 2024) 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:  

Edexcel

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.

 

Year 11: Last year of the previous GCSE course:

Five Main Themes:

  • Identity and culture (Y10: Jour ordinaires, jours de fête; Qui suis-je?
    Le temps de loisirs)
  • Local area, holiday, travel (Y10 and Y11: De la ville à la campagne, et Le grand large… )
  • School (Y11: Au collège)
  • Future aspirations, study and work (Y11: Bon travail!)
  • International and global dimension (Y11: Un œil sur le monde)

Assessment

All examination questions will be set in the context of the following five topic areas:

  • Paper 1: listening exam (25%)
  • Paper 2: speaking exam (25%) role play, response to picture stimulus and conversation
  • Paper 3: reading and understanding exam (25%) texts in French with answers in French plus translation tasks
  • Paper 4: writing exam (25%) creative, spontaneous response plus translation tasks.

Assessment

Details of assessment criteria for Key Stage 4 can be found here.

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

The top sets in French are stretched from Year 8, using academically the higher edition of Dynamo text books and supplementary teacher resources. By the time they reach GCSE the majority of the students in set 1, and often set 2 are taught beyond the requirements of the GCSE syllabus both in grammar and vocabulary.

Set 1 students follow the higher course and assessment that stretches their ability further using knowledge/skills in different contexts, strategies that promote creativity and models to embed thinking skills.

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

Staff List

  • Miss L McGrady
  • Ms A Sampson
  • Miss K Steer
  • Miss M Tessier

Useful Revision Website Links: