Modern Foreign Languages

Maths

We aim to promote an interest in and an awareness of the languages and culture of other countries, and in particular French and German-speaking countries around the world. All students entering the School begin with either French or German. Students joining the school in September 2024 will start with French. Those that apply can choose to study Mandarin instead of French.

Students will take up their second language (German in 2024) in Year 8 and study both their first and second foreign language in Years 8 and 9. There is the possibility of starting Spanish as an additional foreign language in Year 9. Many students continue with one language to GCSE (French, German, Spanish or Mandarin) although it is possible to carry on with more than one language with our fast track Double Languages option, traditionally in French and German. Both French and German are offered at AS and A2 level and Spanish A Level will be introduced in 2024.

We welcome students who come to school already proficient in a foreign language and we are happy to facilitate an early GCSE where appropriate. 

We offer individual conversation practice to all our A Level learners. 

Outside the classroom, we have regular languages competitions and events. Trips included our long-running exchanges with Bingen in Germany and Brittany in France, and trips to Le Touquet, Paris and Berlin. 

Further resources:

Key Stage 3 Extension Reading Journey (Modern Foreign Languages)

FRENCH: MAIN TOPICS COVERED

YEAR 7

Vif Chapters 1-4

  • Personal introductions and classroom phrases
  • Opinions
  • Sport and technology
  • Colours
  • Routine and school
  • Cultural unit

YEAR 8

Vif 1 Chapters 5-6 and Vif 2 Chapters 1-2

  • Work and your future plans
  • Food and drink
  • Inclusivity 
  • Holidays
  • Cultural unit

YEAR 9

Vif 2 Chapters 3-6

  • Hobbies past and present
  • Technology
  • French towns
  • Health
  • Extension topics for GCSE/Wanderlust project

YEAR 10

Key Stage 4 AQA GCSE Course Chapters 1-6

  • Family and friends
  • Use of technology in everyday life
  • Free time activities
  • Customs and festivals
  • Home town
  • Social issues

YEAR 11

Key Stage 4 AQA GCSE course chapters 7-12

  • Recap of traditions, local area, social and environmental issues
  • Holidays, travel and tourism
  • School life, jobs and further study
  • Plans for the future
  • Revision and exam preparation

YEAR 12

Key Stage 5 AQA A Level course (year 1)

  • Intensive grammar course
  • Family life
  • Francophone music
  • The digitalisation of society
  • Youth problems
  • French cinema and study of a film (Un long dimanche de fiançailles, Jeunet, 2004)
  • Voluntary work
  • Paris as a town and region
  • Francophone traditions and festivals
  • Begin study of a literary text (No et Moi, Vigan 2009)

YEAR 13

Key Stage 5 AQA A Level course (year 2)

  • Continued study of ‘No et Moi’
  • Social diversity, marginalisation and crime
  • Youth engagement in politics and the vote
  • Protests, strikes and unions
  • Immigration policy

 

GERMAN: MAIN TOPICS COVERED

YEAR 7

Echt 1 Chapters 1-4

  • Personal introductions and in the classroom
  • House, friends and animals
  • Free time, sport music and celebrities
  • School
  • Cultural unit

YEAR 8

Echt 1 chapter 5, Echt 2 Chapters 1-3

  • Food and drink
  • Holidays
  • Home house and bedroom 
  • Everyday life and routine

YEAR 9

Echt 2 Chapters 4,5 beginning of AQA GCSE themes

  • Clothes
  • Film music and technology
  • Free time (GCSE)
  • Festivals and traditions (GCSE)
  • Extension topics for GCSE/Wanderlust project

YEAR 10

Key Stage 4 AQA GCSE course chapters 1-6

  • Recap of the topic of family and friends
  • Use of technology in everyday life
  • Free time activities
  • Customs and festivals
  • Home town
  • Social issues

YEAR 11

Key Stage 4 AQA GCSE course chapters 7-12

  • Recap of traditions, local area, social and environmental issues
  • Holidays, travel and tourism
  • School life, Jobs and further study
  • Plans for the future
  • Revision and exam preparation

YEAR 12

Key Stage 5 AQA A Level course (year 1)

  • Intensive grammar
  • The digitalisation of society
  • The changing role of family life
  • Youth culture: Trends in music, fashion and television in the German speaking world
  • Traditions and festivals
  • History and culture in Berlin (past and present)
  • Art and architecture
  • Study of a film (Goodbye Lenin, Becker 2003)
  • Education and work
  • Environment and travel
  • Begin study of a literary text (Der Vorleser, Schlink 1995)

YEAR 13

Key Stage 5 AQA A Level course (year 2)

  • Continued study of ‘Der Vorleser’
  • Immigration, integration and racism in German-speaking society
  • Germany and the European Union
  • Politics and young people
  • Reunification and its ramifications

 

SPANISH: MAIN TOPICS COVERED

Year 9

Claro 1 chapters 1-4

  • Introductions and opinions
  • Family, animals and descriptions
  • Free time sport and music
  • Home and house

YEAR 10

Key Stage 4 AQA GCSE course chapters 1-6

  • Recap of the topic of family and friends
  • Use of technology in everyday life
  • Free time activities
  • Customs and festivals
  • Home town
  • Social issues                                                                       

YEAR 11

Key Stage 4 AQA GCSE course chapters 7-12

  • Recap of traditions, local area, social and environmental issues
  • Holidays, travel and tourism
  • School life, jobs and further study
  • Plans for the future
  • Revision and exam preparation

Examination Board and Specifications

Please also refer to our Exams page for further information

GCSE

A Level

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