Modern Foreign Languages

Good language skills are a real asset in any job. In our Twenty-First Century global marketplace, the ability to communicate in a foreign language and understand the culture behind that language is of vital importance.
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The Modern Foreign Languages Department aims to:

• Provide students with a first-hand experience of the language through direct contact with native speakers on language exchanges and immersion language trips abroad.
• Broaden students’ experience and knowledge as they discover new cultures and get to know a different country.
• Build upon skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing to enable students to communicate confidently and independently.
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‍Native Speakers‍

Every year, we enter a large number of native speakers for a GCSE in their home language. Languages undertaken in the past have included: Russian, Polish, Italian, Irish, Persian, Arabic, Chinese Mandarin, Chinese Cantonese, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish, German and Greek. We are also a centre for students taking AS qualifications in Portuguese and Spanish at the Portuguese and Spanish schools operating on site. These students usually achieve top grades.‍

Extra-curricular activity‍

A diverse range of clubs and activities are offered by the Modern Foreign Languages Department. In addition, we also run collaborative and cross-curricular enrichment days for Key Stage 3. These include:

• Modern Foreign Languages Spelling Bee competition (Year 7 and 8)
• Chinese Club (Year 7 and 8)
• TAFAL - Teach a Friend A Language (Year 8)
• Residential language immersion visit to Maison Claire Fontaine, France (Years 7, 8 and 9)
• Residential trip to Spain, including collaboration with our Spanish exchange School, La Salle, Santander (years 7, 8 and 9)