We aim to develop confident and competent language learners who are able to manipulate language and communicate effectively. We wish to instil a love of language learning and appreciation of other cultures in our students, and aim, through foreign language learning, to provide our young people with transferable skills which they can use in their future lives.
Our Team
Mr Gaffney
Head of French
Mrs Robinson - Aspiring Assistant Headteacher - Head of MFL
Niall Gaffney - Head of French
Miss Fletcher - Second in MFL
Mrs Parker - Teacher of MFL
Miss Delhoste - Teacher of MFL
Teaching and Learning
Key Stage 3: Years 7-9
At key stage 3, students have 4 language lessons per fortnight, and study French from the start of year 7 through to the end of year 9. Although we start with the basics of language at the beginning of the course, students are quickly able to communicate likes and dislikes in the target language, and by the end of the key stage 3 course can use all three time frames: past, present and future. Topics covered are engaging and matched to students’ interests, for example, social media, TV and cinema. Towards Spring in year 9 students can choose to opt for French to study in years 10 and 11.
Key Stage 4: Years 10 and 11
At key stage 4, students have 5 lessons a fortnight, and are grouped by ability. We build on the foundations laid at Key Stage 3 and then go into more depth in each of the topic areas studied. Students get a much deeper cultural understanding of customs in Francophone countries as well as developing linguistic competence. At the end of the course, students are assessed in four areas: Speaking, listening, reading and writing, with each component being worth 25% of the overall GCSE result
Assessment
In the MFL faculty, it is very important that our students make the best progress possible. To this end, we conduct regular assessments, both summative (test based) and formative (during the lesson) to ensure that content has been understood well. At key stage 3, students will complete half-termly short assessments as well as an end of year exam. At key stage 4, groups will complete at least one assessment per half-term and PPE (pre-public exams) once a year.
Resources and Rooms
We are a very well-resourced faculty and have 4 purpose-built language classrooms as well as a computer suite for students’ use. We use and subscribe to online resources such as Active Learn and Linguascope which are available for the students to use to support their learning.
Home Learning
In the MFL faculty, we set a variety of forms of home learning to enable students to consolidate their learning. Students may be asked to do comprehensions, learn vocabulary, produce a piece of writing or a creative response to language learning. We also use online resources such as Seneca to give instant feedback to students.
Extra-Curricular Activities
As a faculty we are extremely proud of the amount of opportunities we offer for learning outside the classroom, most notably our hugely successful Educational Visit to Paris, which takes place every year for year 7 and 8 students. In addition, we offer University visits for year 8, 9 and 10 students, French restaurant and cultural visits for year 9, and French cinema and Christmas market visits for Key Stage 4 students. In addition, we run lunchtime catch up clubs for all students and revision masterclasses for our year 11 students twice a week after school.
Mrs Robinson
Aspiring Assistant Headteacher – Head of MFL