Welcome to the MFL web page
The Department is staffed by a successful team of well-qualified teachers. There are four full-time members and one foreign language assistant currently teaching in the department. We are a seat of excellence in ITT and are extensively involved in the CILT GTP programme. We also work closely with our partner schools and our department seeks always to share good practice and embrace new challenges.
The department is well-equipped with a wealth of digital resources for teaching and learning. We also have our own cluster of networked computers, which supplement the school's excellent ICT facilities. Extensive use is made of ICT in our teaching and learning programmes. Our schemes of work are developed with the aim of fostering excellent language skills through creativity and enjoyment. Members of the department are committed to improvement and innovation.Levels of pupil achievement compare very favourably with those in other departments in this outstanding school and exceed local and national averages.
All pupils learn French in years 7, 8 & 9 and German is offered to some pupils as a second foreign language from Year 8. The curriculum enables the pupils to develop language skills through a variety of contexts and gives pupils opportunities to explore aspects of the life and culture of countries and communities where the language is spoken. These include people, places, festivals, national events, food, sport, history, education, climate, geographical features, buildings, the spoken and the written word, music and song, the visual arts and the media. Schemes of work are developed with the aim of fostering excellent language skills through creativity and enjoyment.
Pupils in KS4 follow GCSE courses in French or German and we have a small cohort taking both languages. The course followed in years 10 & 11 leads to qualification with the WJEC examination board and we follow the programme as detailed in the WJEC specification. This specification builds upon the Programmes of Study for French at Key Stage 3 and provides the basis for further study at Advanced Subsidiary and/or Advanced GCE. Qualification is gained by external assessment in Listening & Reading and controlled assessments in Speaking & Writing.
Post 16
Pupils in KS5 follow GCE AS or AS and A2 courses in French leading to qualification through the WJEC examination board. This specification provides a coherent, satisfying and worthwhile course of study for candidates and is a suitable foundation for the study of French or a related area through a range of higher education courses; progression to the next level of vocational qualifications; or direct entry into employment.
Extra curricular
The departmental team works hard to maintain a high profile for its subject and there is a varied programme of extra curricular activities e.g. Languages Café, Language Leaders, cultural tasters and conferences. Our students have enjoyed success in national competitions such as the Laftas.
We organise a wide range of trips to France and Germany and we are also developing links with our partner city, Lyon and an exchange with a Lycée in Hyères.
