Curriculum Area Leader:
Mr B Matthews; French and Spanish teacher.
Other department staff:
Mrs A Del Rio Assistant Curriculum Area Leader; Spanish teacher.
Dr C Kessi, Assistant Curriculum Area Leader and Department; French teacher.

Mr L Corr, KS4 manager; French and Language Experience teacher.

The MFL Curriculum Area has well qualified, experienced and enthusiastic staff who are committed to raising the levels of student achievement. Dedicated schemes of work are in place for each class and a variety of teaching techniques are used to engage students in their learning.

We are also piloting a scheme for a FCSE in languages in Year 9. This will mean that all students will have the opportunity to gain a recognised qualification before taking GCSEs.

Next year we are looking to introduce German to Year 9 language choices.

Modern Languages is mainly taught in a suite of rooms on the first floor, which includes a specific sixth form room and an office. Each classroom has a data projector and there is a bank of laptops for student use. We also have a portable language laboratory which is regularly used with the senior groups

At KS3 and KS4 we use the Caminos course for Spanish and the Métro course for French; these are complemented by Boardworks, an IT course which is used in the classroom.

At KS5 we use Sigue 1 + 2 for Spanish and Tout Droit and Droit au But for French. In addition to these text books, students also read articles from newspapers, magazines and literature from the language being studied and we use videos, film and the internet as further resources which allow students to experience more deeply the culture of their chosen language.

In recent years we have taken Year 11 and sixth form students to Madrid (photos here) and we are looking to organise a similar trip next year.

Sixth form students are given the chance to carry out a period of work experience in France or Spain to improve their language skills in the country of their choice.

With the support of the library, Spanish and French language magazines are purchased specifically for all Key Stages and students are encouraged to dip into these resources. El País and Le Monde are delivered once a week for the AS and A2 groups.