French is taught in Year 6, following the popular Clic coursebook. Pupils learn to speak and understand French at a basic level but also discover fascinating facts about the French speaking world. Since 2025, pupils are also introduced to the wonder of languages more broadly through the WoLLoW languages curriculum which is taught alongside French.

French is our core modern language at this stage as, alongside English, it can claim to be truly global, being spoken on all five continents and in addition is the official language of NATO, the UN and the European Court of Justice, amongst others. We follow the Dynamo course in addition to a wide variety of extra resources, and four periods are allocated to the teaching of French each week. Examples of the topics covered are school, people’s character, places in town and weather. All teaching seeks to include an introduction to France and Francophone culture in general. At this stage pupils are taught in forms, and two homeworks are allocated per week.

French remains the core language in Year 8, following the course Dynamo 2, and covering areas such as holidays, festivals and health. Pupils are taught in sets and have three lessons per week. Pupils start a second language, either Spanish or German, following the courses Viva 1 and Genau 1.

Pupils have the opportunity to continue with either French, German or Spanish. Most study two languages until the end of Year 9. Pupils are taught in sets and have three

lessons per week. Given that pupils already have a firm grounding in French, teaching here starts gradually working towards GCSE, working with the coursebook AQA GCSE, whereas in German pupils progress onto the course with Stimmt 2, and likewise in Spanish with Viva 2.

Pupils may choose as their core Modern Foreign Language French, German or Spanish, depending on which language option was chosen for Year 9, and, if desired, a second language. Pupils are taught in sets for four periods a week and use the AQA examination board, which is a linear qualification where all pupils sit their examinations at the end of the course. The wide-ranging themes covered are people and lifestyle, popular culture and communication and the world around us, focusing heavily on countries where the language is spoken and following the Pearson coursebooks. Pupils who have excelled in languages in Year 9 may also be offered the opportunity to learn Italian ab initio, following the Hodder coursebook and taking Cambridge iGCSE after two years.

We offer French, German and Spanish in the Sixth Form. Not only do the courses improve and extend knowledge of the language but students also examine and develop their knowledge of the contemporary culture and society of the country, as well as its literature, film, technology and history. Whether French, German or Spanish is chosen, the AQA specification follows a similar pattern across the units, the core content comprising social issues and trends, political and artistic culture and grammar. Pupils also study a book and a film with titles such as La haine (hate), la casa de Bernarda Alba (Bernarda Alba’s house) and Goodbye Lenin. Assessment is linear and consists of three papers. Additionally, pupils undertake an Independent Research Project on a topic of their choice for their speaking exam. Pupils also have one compulsory lesson a week with a native speaker language assistant to further develop their speaking skills.

Italian is offered to talented linguists in Year 10 to study ab initio for two years, sitting the Cambridge iGCSE examination in Year 11.

Sixth form languages students are involved in mentoring younger pupils, offering extra help to any pupil needing further support with their language learning in French, German or Spanish at any level.

All of Year 9 are encouraged to participate in a five-day residential trip either France, Germany or Spain.

Pupils in Year 10 have the opportunity to participate in the exchange programmes, bringing language learning to life for our pupils and fostering strong international relations and lifelong friendships.

In the Sixth Form, pupils are encouraged, where possible, to participate in joint trips with other departments or undertake bespoke work experience, all of which vastly enrich their linguistic skills, experience and understanding.

European Day of Languages is always celebrated with gusto in September, starting the school year with all sorts of language tasters, games and competitions.

Pupils of all year groups are encouraged to participate in conferences at local universities and schools: for example, Year 9 pupils have visited Warwick University for a Languages Day, Sixth Formers have attended masterclasses in all three languages at Aston University and an AS/2 conference at Loughborough Grammar. The Anthea Bell Translation prize run by Oxford University has also seen our pupils enjoy notable success.

Year 7 pupils have enjoyed success locally and nationally in the Routes into Languages National Spelling Bee in French too, proudly winning the competition and reaching the National Final most years. Likewise, Year 8 pupils take their prowess a step further with the National Translation Bee and have celebrated success here too.