Modern Foreign Languages
Staff within the Department
Rachel Wright - Head of Department. French & Spanish
BSc (Hons) International Relations (London School of Economics, University of London)
Yolanda Barnas - French & German
BA Languages - French & German
Marielle Bendifallah – Second-in-charge. KS4 co-ordinator. French
MA English Literature & Civilisation
Acrise Faulkner - Latin
BA (Hons First Class) French & Italian
Catherine Hodgkins - French, Spanish and Latin.
University of Exeter - BA (Hons) French and Spanish
At the heart of everything the MFL department does is a love of languages, and we believe our passion shines through in everything we do. We seek to inspire and nurture that same passion for languages in our students. Through the study of a language, students learn key communication skills and gain an appreciation for the culture and history of the places in the world where that language is spoken.
Our curriculum at KS3 and 4 is planned through core grammar, topic-based vocabulary and key questions. We teach explicit phonics early in KS3 and regularly revisit and practise these principles throughout KS3 and 4. We have also incorporated cultural content, including literature and art, thereby developing students’ cultural capital.
During KS3 students learn French and Spanish and we help them to make links between those languages, and English, thus improving their literacy and range of vocabulary in English too. MFL facilitates success in other subjects in other ways; by equipping students with reading strategies and essay planning skills. We ensure that during years 7 and 8 students gain knowledge and skills that will help them to succeed at GCSE languages, for example, in developing extended writing skills. We introduce KS3 students to GCSE themes and topic-based vocabulary and also focus on the transferable skills and knowledge that link up those topics. We use sentence builders to support students in forming longer sentences, as well as teaching grammar explicitly.
Curriculum
KS3
In year 7 and year 8 all pupils study both French and Spanish, with 3 lessons for each language over the 2-week timetable, equating to 3 hours of MFL each week.
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Autumn Term |
Spring Term |
Summer Term |
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Year 7 FRENCH |
Qui je suis – Who I am
Ma famille et moi – My family and I
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Ma vie – My life (School and home)
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Mon temps libre – My free time
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Year 7 SPANISH
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El mundo hispano – The Hispanic World
Mi familia y otros animales – My family and other animals
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¿Cómo eres? – What are you like?
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Mi tiempo libre – My free time
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Year 8 FRENCH |
Manger et boire – Eating and drinking
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En Ville – In Town |
Mon Look – My Look
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Year 8 SPANISH |
Dónde vivo yo – Where I live
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Mi Instituto – My School
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Dieta y salud - Food and health
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Activities to do at home
We recommend BBC bitesize, which has videos with interactive quizzes and games to extend and enrich your language learning: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z2nygk7
KS4
At KS4 we follow the new AQA GCSE specifications for French, Spanish and German. An overview of the topic content, assessment and keys to success is below:
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Autumn Term |
Spring Term |
Summer Term |
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Year 9 |
GCSE Groundwork: In depth review and extension of KS3 core vocab and grammar
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Unit 1: Identity and relationships with others
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Unit 2: Healthy living and lifestyle
Unit 3 part 1: Education and work |
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Year 10
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Unit 3 part 2: Education and work Unit 4: Free time activities
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Unit 5: Customs, festivals and celebrations
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Unit 6: Celebrity Culture Unit 7 part 1: Travel and tourism |
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Year 11 |
Unit 7 part 2: Travel and tourism Unit 8: Media and technology |
Unit 9: The environment and where people live |
Revision and exams |
Website links
GCSE French: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/french/gcse/french-8652/specification
GCSE Spanish: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/spanish/gcse/spanish-8692/specification
GCSE German: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/german/gcse/german-8662/specification
Latin WJEC specification
http://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/latin/eduqas-gcse-latin-spec-from-2016.pdf?language_id=1
Activities to do at home
French
We recommend BBC bitesize, which has interactive revision materials for each topic plus all the required grammar: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zhsvr82
Choose your language and then AQA – Exams from 2026.
All KS4 students have a log in to Kerboodle.com so they can access the online textbook which we use in class. There are embedded interactive activities on each page that students can use for revision purposes or to extend their learning.
KS5
At A level, students learn the language in the context of French and Spanish speaking countries and issues and influences which have shaped them. Topics include technological and social change, highlights of artistic culture, including a focus on regional identities and the cultural heritage of past civilisations. In French and Spanish, students will study texts and film and will have the opportunity to carry out independent research on an area of their choice. Assessment tasks will be varied and cover listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.
Entry to the French and Spanish courses is subject to obtaining a minimum Grade 7.
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Autumn Term |
Spring Term |
Summer Term |
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Year 12 |
French / Spanish: GCSE / A level bridging unit Aspects of society: Cyberspace
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French / Spanish: Aspects of society Equal rights Multiculturalism: Racism Integration
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French / Spanish:
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Year 13 |
French / Spanish: Film and literature studies Political life: Popular movements
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French / Spanish: Film and literature studies
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French / Spanish: Exam preparation
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For a detailed overview of the exam structure at A level, please use the weblinks below:
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/french/a-level/french-7652/specification
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/spanish/a-level/spanish-7692/specification
Activities to do at home
FRENCH TV & RADIO CHANNELS
Good general fun channel (click REPLY for iplayer) + good news reports
Lots of shows (A bit like ITV1) but the news is good
Music video channel
Belgian TV with lots of listening/articles
French MTV with French & International songs/interviews
A serious channel but good for AL type listening. Also a great section on the French language (click: langue française then click: découvrir le français for all sorts of games & exercise for foreigners leaning French)
French international radio station with lots of listening exercises & podcasts (with exercises/answers - look at langue française)
Good music/news station in French (to listen online click: RTL en direct)
FRENCH MAGAZINES/NEWSPAPERS
Fashion magazine
Film/cinema magazine
Gossip magazine
The French equivalent of the Times (good but French quite challenging, especially for AS)
Like the free Metro newspapers in the UK, short articles on French & world news, more accessible than the more ‘serious’ papers
Enrichment Activities and Trips
GCSE French: Day trip to Boulogne-sur-Mer (year 9 and 10, every year)
GCSE Spanish: 3 day trip to Madrid (year 9 and 10, every 2 years)
Career Paths
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Finance |
Sales |
Teaching |
Banking |
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Marketing |
Advertising |
Translating |
Interpreting |