Modern Foreign Languages

The Modern Languages Department at College is one of the largest of any school in the UK. The core languages we teach are: Mandarin Chinese, French, Italian, German and Spanish. Japanese is also available in the Sixth Form. In addition, wherever we can, we support pupils' individual needs and home languages. Currently we have students studying Modern Greek and Russian alongside the main curriculum. We believe in releasing the creative potential of learning languages to motivate and inspire our learners, and give our learners confidence in their innate ability as linguists. 

There are many reasons why everyone should be able to speak at least one foreign language. Languages are our key medium for self-expression, and as such they are at the heart of individual and collective cultural identity. That gives them immense creative potential which is fundamental to our lives and an invaluable resource. There is a huge demand for linguists in every sector and many students go on to use their language skills in business, diplomacy, the media, and travel. Less tangible, though scientifically proven, are the benefits that language learning have on the brain and the development of our mother tongue. Furthermore, learning a foreign language enhances communication, a skill much prized in a wide range of careers. 

We work closely with students to enable them to become independent language learners who are curious about the world around them. We run residential trips to China, Japan, Spain, France, and Italy, longstanding German and Italian exchange programmes and work experience in Europe. These trips enable our students to practise their language skills, experience the culture of the target country and build fantastic and lifelong memories. 

The Modern Languages Department offers a wide range of activities ranging from debating clubs to cookery. We encourage pupils to take part in competitions such as the UK Linguistics Olympiad, the Oxford University film and fiction competitions, the Anthea Bell and Stephen Spender poetry translation competitions and Oxford, Cambridge, and University of Sheffield essay competitions. 

LC PROGRAMME

LC1 (Year 7): Pupils may choose their first language of study and College allocates the second from a choice of Mandarin, French, German and Spanish.  

LC2 (Year 8); Pupils choose two languages from a combination of: Mandarin, French, German and Spanish.  

LC3: (Year 9) Pupils may pick up an additional language ab initio choosing from French, Italian and Spanish. 

UC PROGRAMME

All students prepare for AQA GCSE  as the formal qualification and we link study wherever possible to culture and current events. All pupils take one MFL GCSE and many take several languages. Heritage language speakers have the opportunity to sit the GCSE in LC3 (Chinese taking Pearson GCSE) 

SFC PROGRAMME

If following the IB pathway, students can study Chinese, French, Italian and Spanish at Standard or Higher Level. They can also choose from Italian, Arabic, Japanese and Russian ab initio. Classes run subject to sufficient numbers. 

If following the A Level pathway, pupils can study Italian, French, German, Spanish. 
(Please click the links for details of the exam board specifications).

Head of Subject

Dr Gerry, Head of MFL