Our Languages curriculum is designed to develop confident, curious, and culturally aware communicators. We aim to foster a love of language learning and an appreciation of the rich diversity of global cultures through the study of French and Spanish.

We offer an inclusive and ambitious curriculum that supports all students in developing the skills to understand and express themselves in another language. Through engaging topics and authentic materials, students build linguistic competence, cultural understanding, and transferable communication skills.

By the end of Key Stage 4, students will be able to:

• Understand and respond to spoken and written language in a range of contexts
• Communicate clearly and accurately in speech and writing
• Use a range of vocabulary and grammatical structures with increasing confidence
• Develop an appreciation of the cultures, traditions, and societies of French- and Spanish-speaking countries
• Apply language learning strategies to become independent and resilient learners

Our intent is to prepare students for further study, travel, and participation in a multilingual world.

Curriculum overview

Key Stage 3

Students study either French or Spanish and build a strong foundation in the four key skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

Year 7 topics:

• Introducing myself: greetings, family, and hobbies
• School life and daily routine
• Describing people and places
• Describing our likes and dislikes

Year 8 topics:

• Food and drink
• Holidays and travel
• My town and local area
• Media and technology

Key Stage 4

Students follow the Edexcel GCSE French or Spanish specification, developing their skills across three themes:

• Identity and culture: Family, relationships, technology, free time, and customs
• Local, national, international and global areas of interest: Home, town, social issues, the environment, and travel
• Current and future study and employment: School, education, jobs, and career plans

Assessment includes four equally weighted components:

• Listening
• Speaking
• Reading (including literary texts and translation)
• Writing (including translation and structured tasks)

Courses offered

• GCSE French
• GCSE Spanish

Enrichment opportunities

We offer a range of enrichment activities to enhance language learning and cultural understanding. These include:

• Language clubs: Games, films, and conversation practice in French and Spanish
• Cultural celebrations: Events marking festivals such as La Fête de la Musique or Día de los Muertos
• Foreign language film screenings: Exposure to authentic language and cultural themes
• Trips abroad: Opportunities to visit French- or Spanish-speaking countries (where available)
• Pen pal projects: Communication with students in partner schools abroad

These experiences help students build confidence, broaden their horizons, and see the real-world value of language learning.