Modern Foreign Languages
The Modern Languages department is housed in 5 well equipped classrooms within the Modern Languages suite which provide a comfortable and positive learning environment for our students.
Within the department we teach Spanish and French up to A Level but also have enrichments available in Italian and Latin, and provide guidance for native speakers of other languages who wish to take formal examinations in their native tongue. There is also a wide selection of self taught language CD roms available for students to make use of in their own time, at school.
Department Staff
| Name | Position |
| Mrs U Storey | Head of MFL |
| Mrs S Barrett | Teacher of MFL / Head of Year 9 |
| Miss A Robertson | Teacher of MFL / Advanced Skills Teacher |
| Mrs S Earl | Teacher of MFL / SCITT Leader |
| Miss S Baker | Teacher of MFL and Business |
| Miss C Longbottom | Teacher of MFL and Music |
| Mrs MH Watson | Teacher of MFL |
| Miss C Wilkinson | Teacher of MFL |
| Mrs D Stanton | Main cover teacher for MFL |
| Mrs S Devereux | MFL Teaching assistant / HLTA |
| Miss B Dominique | Belgian Language Assistant |
| Miss C Lavid | Spanish Language Assistant |
Aims of the Department
- To enable students to communicate effectively and to their full potential using the target language.
- To give students an insight into and appreciation of the culture of the countries whose language they are studying and to have a better understanding and tolerance of people.
- To equip our students with the skills they need to access opportunities in the world of travel and work in a modern, technological society.
- To enjoy language learning.
The Key Stage 3 Curriculum
Students at KS3 are taught French in tutor groups in year 7 and then set according to ability from year 8, with a set one and then two parallel groups per band. KS3 they receive 2 hours of MFL per week which represents two hours of French in year 7 and one hour of each language in years 8 and 9. Therefore, all students are given the opportunity to study two languages within curriculum time.
The KS3 French scheme of work is based around Métro 1, 2 and 3. and the KS3 Spanish scheme of work from year 8, is based on Listos 1 and 2 as well as the additional ICT based resources around these texts. Extra departmental resources are used to enhance teaching and the new year 7 SOW especially is designed to fit in with the new MFL framework and programmes of study.
The Key Stage 4 Curriculum
At KS4 pupils opting for GCSE languages receive two or three lessons per week depending upon which option group they are in and the Spanish and French GCSE groups follow the new (current year 10) or the old (current year 11) Edexcel GCSE course. See below for the links to the separate specifications.
Both courses cover 2 academic years. Both French and Spanish GCSE students complete coursework (the current year 10 complete controlled coursework only) the deadline for submission of which, is the end of March of the final examination year. The students also will have examinations in speaking, listening and reading. During these two years the students may also be given the opportunity to participate in a foreign visit to France or Spain as well as university visits in order to deepen their understanding of their language. They also receive extra tuition, at least once a fortnight, with a foreign language assistant in order to boost their language skills.
The MFL department also encourages pupils to be entered for GCSE examinations in community languages or other languages that are spoken at home, whether they are learning the language formally or not. Support for these examinations is provided through our enrichment programme.
For more information, please visit the GCSE specifications for French or Spanish.
The Key Stage 5 Curriculum
At KS5 students opting for GCE languages receive 6 lessons per week and follow the Spanish and/ or French Edexcel course. They are encouraged to participate in visits abroad to enhance their learning and also have the opportunity to participate in work experience during year 12 or year 13. They also receive extra tuition, at least once a week, with a foreign language assistant in order to boost their language skills.
For more information, please view the A-Level specifications for French or Spanish.
Teaching & Learning in MFL
- All students are grouped according to their abilities from year 8. This is based on KS2 data, year 7 tests in the, MFL and teacher assessment although this is currently under review due to the large number of students now studying a MFL in Primary.
- Students in KS5 have 2 teachers who each deliver a part of the GCE course.
- Priority is given to both KS4-5 students for lessons with the MFL assistant.
- All students are encouraged to work independently in and out of the classroom and develop their L2L skills as well as make good use of the resources made available to them via the Academy intranet and teacher Blogs.
Assessment
Assessment is in line with the whole school policy. Students are given comments and/or a grade/level on their work where appropriate and are encouraged to apply strategies discussed in class to allow them to succeed. Formative assessment is considered a priority within the department, however, in terms of summative assessment, all students are assessed in all the four attainment targets and receive reports according to the Academy assessment calendar.
Why should you study a Language?
- You may require it for entry to some university courses- other than languages
- You often get paid more as some jobs pay you up to 20% more for a good language qualification
- You will be in demand as languages can improve your career prospects in business, fashion, media, football, engineering etc.
- You will meet new people
- You will help the UK companies are that are losing 20% of their business because they lack language skills
- You may live longer and make your brain bigger as it has been scientifically proven that learning a language can be good for the old grey matter!
- You will have the opportunity to visit and even work abroad
- You will become more confident as speaking in a different language to a French, Spanish or Italian speaker will make communication in your own language seem easy
