Contact Us
Proficiency in a foreign language can open doors to a huge range of opportunities whether in terms of future study and career options or in forming lifelong friendships. Language learning offers our students an immediately applicable skill which fosters pleasure and a sense of achievement whilst the cultural knowledge and understanding implicit in our curriculum teaches the importance of valuing and respecting other cultures. Most important of all, languages are about tolerance and understanding – values which are at the heart of our faith.
Our curriculum is designed to enable all learners develop a love of languages, become confident communicators, and acquire the skills and the mind-set to consider themselves ‘World Citizens’.
In particular, our curriculum aims to:
Ensure students have sufficient breadth of vocabulary and mastery of grammar to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and in writing.
Develop a positive attitude to languages, linguistic skills and cultural curiosity, so that students are fully able and motivated to continue their language learning when they leave school.
Equip students with the flexibility of thinking, tolerance and resilience necessary to embrace the challenges of our ever changing, multicultural world.
French is one of the three official business languages of many international institutions including the European Union, the UN and the IOC. It is spoken as the first language in 29 countries and is the 5th most widely spoken language in the world. In our department, we raise awareness of the importance of language and language learning, both in the classroom and on trips to France, and our highly experienced and qualified staff employ a range of teaching strategies which combine the best new ideas with well-established, excellent practice.
About the department
We aim to develop skills, confidence and creativity in the 4 key areas of speaking, listening, reading and writing. Teachers are specialised, experienced and enthusiastic, using a wide range of activities and strategies to help students enjoy learning foreign languages while developing their linguistic ability. Authentic resources and the use of the foreign language in and outside the classroom are considered a vital part of languages teaching at St Mary’s, and the department offers a range of extracurricular activities and trips abroad in order to enhance the language learning experience at our school.
| Our Key Stage 3 curriculum provides our students with the key concepts of grammar, content and cultural understanding that they need to succeed. Topics are taught through the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing, but we also focus an the core grammar points in preparation for the GCSE course. Pupils are encouraged to participate actively in lessons. We incorporate engaging activities to support learning in every lesson, such as singing French songs, using mini whiteboards, watching cultural video clips and playing competitive online team games in our computer room. We subscribe to various languages learning websites that pupils can access both at home and in school. | ||
Year 7
| Year 8
| Year 9
|
| Students who opt to study French at GCSE will follow the AQA syllabus. The course builds upon the skills developed at Key Stage 3 and further develops fluency and depth on the following topics: 1. Identity and culture 2. Local, national, international and global areas of interest 3. Current and future study and employment Students are assessed on 4 key skills, and can be entered either at foundation or higher level.
Exam Board: AQA – Specification 8658 For further details please visit: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/french-8658 |
| Students who opt to study A Level French will follow the AQA syllabus. The course build upon the 4 skills developed at GCSE and covers a wide range of topics including: 1. Aspects of French-speaking society: current trends
2. Artistic culture in the French-speaking world
3. Current issues in French society
4. Aspects of political life in the French speaking world
Students will also study a film, currently Kiffe kiffe demain by Faïza Guène. In Year 13 students will complete an independent research project on a topic of their choice. Students are assessed in 4 areas:
Exam Board: AQA – Specification 7652 For further details please visit: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/as-and-a-level/french-7652 |
ProgressionThe government has recognised that there is a modern languages skills gap. Choosing to study a language at degree level is a way of boosting your employability. Besides the traditional paths of interpreting, translating and teaching, students with language skills are in demand. Universities value a Languages A level as a highly academic subject due to the transferable skills that students develop – these skills can be used in almost any career with pathways including jobs in business, law, journalism, politics, architecture and engineering. There are now many university courses which combine languages study with another subject. |
After English, German it the most widely spoken language in Europe; it is a key language for business and much sought after by many employers. In our department we raise awareness of the importance of language and language learning, both in the classroom and on trips to Germany, and our highly experienced and qualified staff employ a range of teaching strategies which combine the best of new ideas with well-established, excellent practice.
We aim to develop skills, confidence and creativity in the 4 key areas of speaking, listening, reading and writing. Teachers are specialised, experienced and enthusiastic, using a wide range of activities and strategies to help students enjoy learning foreign languages while developing their linguistic ability. Authentic resources and the use of the foreign language in and outside the classroom are considered a vital part of languages teaching at St Mary’s and the department offers a range of extracurricular activities and trips abroad in order to enhance the language learning experience at our school.
| In Key Stage 3 pupils follow the programs of study set out by the national curriculum. Topics are taught through the 4 skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing but we also focus on the core grammar in preparation for German GCSE. Pupils are encouraged to participate actively in lessons. We incorporate fun activities to support learning into the lessons, such as cultural research, using mini whiteboards, watching cultural video clips and playing competitive online team games in our computer room. We subscribe to various language learning websites that pupils can access both at home and in school for vocabulary learning and practice. | ||
| Year 7 Topics
| Year 8 Topics
| Year 9 Topics
|
| Students who opt to study German at GCSE will follow the AQA syllabus. The course builds upon the skills developed at Key Stage 3 and further develops fluency and depth on the following topics: 1. Identity and culture 2. Local, national, international and global areas of interest 3. Current and future study and employment Students are assessed on 4 skills, and can be entered either at foundation or higher level:
Exam Board: AQA – Specification code: 8668, QAN code: 601/8159/X For further details please visit: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/german-8668 |
| Students who opt to study A Level German will follow the AQA syllabus. The course build upon the four skills developed at GCSE and covers a wide range of topics including: 1. Aspects of German-speaking society
2. Artistic culture in the German-speaking world
3. Multiculturalism in German-speaking society
4. Aspects of political life in the German-speaking world
Students will also study a film, currently Das Leben der Anderen, by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, and a play, currently Der Besuch der alten Dame by Friedrich Dürrenmatt. Students are assessed in 4 areas:
At the end of Year 12, all students will complete an internal transition exam. Exam Board: AQA – Specification 7662 For further details please visit: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/as-and-a-level/german-7662 | ||||||||||||
Progression | ||||||||||||
| The government has recognised that there is a modern languages skills gap. Choosing to study a language at degree level is a way of boosting your employability. Besides the traditional paths of interpreting, translating and teaching, students with language skills are in demand. Universities value a Languages A-level as a highly academic subject due to the transferable skills that students develop – these skills can be used in almost any career with pathways including jobs in |
Spanish is one of the official languages of the European Union and the United Nations, and is spoken as the first language in 21 countries. With 400 million speakers, it is the third most spoken language in the world after English and Mandarin. In our department we raise awareness of the importance of language and language learning, both in the classroom and on trips to Spain, and our highly experienced and qualified staff employ a range of teaching strategies which combine the best of new ideas with well-established, excellent practice.
About the department
We aim to develop skills, confidence and creativity in the 4 key areas: speaking, listening, reading and writing. Teachers are specialised, experienced and enthusiastic, using a wide range of activities and strategies to help students enjoy learning foreign languages while developing their linguistic ability. Authentic resources and the use of the foreign language in and outside the classroom are considered a vital part of languages teaching at St Mary’s, and the department offers a range of extracurricular activities and trips abroad in order to enhance the language learning experience at our school.
| Our Key Stage 3 curriculum, provides our students with the key content, grammatical knowledge and cultural understanding that they need to succeed. Topics are taught through the 4 skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing, but we also focus on the core grammar points in preparation for the GCSE course. Pupils are encouraged to participate actively in lessons. We incorporate engaging activities to support learning in every lesson, such as cultural research, using mini whiteboards, watching cultural video clips and playing competitive online Team games in our computer room. We subscribe to various language learning websites that pupils can access both at home and in school for vocabulary learning and practice. | ||
Year 7
| Year 8
| Year 9
|
| Students who opt to study Spanish at GCSE will follow the AQA syllabus. The course builds upon the skills developed at Key Stage 3 and further develops fluency and depth on the following topics: 1. Identity and culture 2. Local, national, international and global areas of interest 3. Current and future study and employment Students are assessed on 4 skills, and can be entered either at foundation or higher level:
Exam Board: AQA – Specification code: 8698, QAN code: 601/8160/6 For further details please visit: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/spanish-8698 |
| Students who opt to study A Level Spanish will follow the AQA syllabus. The course build upon the 4 skills developed at GCSE and covers a wide range of topics including: 1. Aspects of Hispanic society: current trends
2. Multiculturalism in Hispanic Society
3. Artistic culture in the Hispanic world
4. Aspects of political life in the Hispanic world
Students will also study a film, currently El Laberinto del Fauna, by Pedro Almodóvar, and a play, currently La casa de Bernada Alba by Lorca. Students are assessed in 4 areas:
Exam Board: AQA – Specification 7692 For further details please visit: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/as-and-a-level/spanish-7692 | ||||||||||||
|