French

Learning a foreign language not only encourages and improves communication skills, but also prepares students for the world of work and enhances their personal and cultural experiences. From Year 7 to Year 11, all students have the opportunity to experience and enjoy learning a language.

German is one of three languages offered from Year 7 in mixed ability classes for six lessons per fortnight. Students who start German in Year 7 will continue learning the language until the end of Year 8. During the options process in Year 8, students may choose to study French at GCSE if they have studied it in Years 7 and 8.

A key focus of our teaching and learning within the Modern Foreign Languages department is equipping students to be resilient, resourceful and confident language learners. Supported by (HB)², we teach students a range of strategies on how to learn and retain new language and students regularly self-assess and evaluate their work in order to make progress going forward.

Through our five-year curriculum journey, students not only learn about the grammar and vocabulary that underpins the language, they also gain an insight into the culture of the language they are studying, including festivals, traditions, food and drink, the school system and much more! In addition to the curriculum, students in Years 7 and 8 experience a language-based cultural capital day. We also offer residential trips in Years 8 and 9 to the Opal Coast in France and Berlin, Germany.

“To learn a language is to have one more window from which to look at the world.”

Chinese Proverb