Introduction

Intent

We aspire to expose our pupils to a broad and ambitious curriculum, which is rich in skills and knowledge, develops self-efficacy, kindles curiosity and promotes diversity and tolerance of other cultures.

At the St Lawrence Academy our curriculum will give pupils the opportunity to:

  • use language skills, receptively and productively, for communication in the real world, for practical purposes, for their immediate needs, interests and beyond and to express and justify opinions;
  • develop their confidence and autonomy to access new and unfamiliar language through the use of decoding skills brought about by the explicit teaching of phonics and sound patterns;
  • work towards becoming a fluent and spontaneous speaker of the foreign language.

 

‘Language is not just words. It’s a culture, a tradition, a unification of a community, a whole history that creates what a community is’  Noam Chomsky

KS3

Using the three pillars of phonics, grammar and lexicon, we:

  • create conditions and develop activities allowing students to practise what they learned with significance.
  • immerse students in situational learning roles to write, read, converse, and learn different languages. 
  • have a lexico-grammatical based approach – which allow students to develop fluency and creativity
  • have a spiral curriculum where grammatical devices are regularly introduced and revisited to consolidate knowledge and understanding

The KS3 topics have been selected to enable students to have an understanding of high frequency grammar structures and vocabulary.  This also provides a solid foundation for further in depth study at KS4.

In year 7, the units of study aid students develop essential language skills of phonics and grammar; describing personal information in Spanish as well as comparing and contrasting cultural traditions. 

In year 8, students focus on giving opinions and reasons on a variety of topics, including free time activities and clothing, cultural aspects are included for students to deepen their knowledge of the wider world. 

In year 9, the curriculum encourages students to consider personal considerations, such as: personality; preferences for careers and future aspirations, as well as, healthy living.  Students investigate the wider world of festivals and Spanish speaking countries. 

KS4 

What is GCSE Spanish?

Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world in terms of numbers of native speakers. Being able to speak and communicate in Spanish is therefore a skill which is highly valued by employers, particularly when combined with another skill area. The course includes the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing as well as translation skills. It will also improve your social skills, give you a sense of achievement, and the language skills that you develop could be a valuable tool when you travel abroad for either business or pleasure.

What skills will I develop?

As well as improving your ability to communicate in Spanish, GCSE Spanish teaches you communication skills, adaptability and cultural awareness. Learning how to interact with speakers of another language means you are less likely to be stuck in one mode of thinking.  It can help you see things from a range of perspectives, develop your problem-solving skills, and make you more adaptable, resourceful and creative.

What syllabus will I follow?

New GCSE specifications will come into effect in September 2024 for Modern Foreign Languages, and we expect to follow the Pearson Edexcel specification for Spanish. The objective of the Pearson Edexcel course is to enable pupils of all abilities to develop their confidence and language skills in a variety of contexts.

What will the course look like?

Assessment is set in the context of these three themes.

  • Theme 1: People and lifestyle
  • Theme 2: Popular culture
  • Theme 3: Communication and the world around us

What homework will I get?

Pupils are expected to complete regular homework. This will include weekly learning, and a variety of activities including verb formations, practice in the use of grammatical structures, reading exercises, speaking presentations, extended pieces of writing, and online learning.

How will I be assessed?

The course is a 100% final exam with each skill area (listening, speaking, reading and writing) worth 25% each. Skills are assessed at Foundation (grades 1-5) or Higher Tier (grades 4-9).

Careers

The aim is to develop language-learning skills both for immediate use and to prepare students for further language study and use in school, higher education or employment.

Woven into every unit of work in KS3, there are explicit career slides with detailed employability skills gained through learning a language and  examples of careers; verbal references are given during activities of when students are taking risks; public-speaking; cultural awareness; and communication skills.  We have developed a unit of work in Y9 on future aspirations, requiring students to reflect on personal preferences considering their personality and personal attributes. 

What jobs or further courses of study might this lead to?

There are many opportunities to travel or work with organisations abroad where some knowledge of Spanish is a clear advantage: interpreter, teacher, translator, journalist, sales executive, marketing executive, tour manager, editor to name but a few.

There is a huge range of combined degrees and further education courses involving Spanish; from accountancy to theatre studies with Spanish. Many universities even offer funding for students to continue or extend their Spanish knowledge by travelling or working abroad during the long vacations or during a year abroad as part of a degree course.