In MFL at Manor School, we aim to inspire in our students a love of languages. Via expert teaching from language specialists in French and Spanish, we strive to equip our students with the knowledge and skills required to communicate well in their chosen foreign language, whilst fostering within them a curiosity for other languages and cultures.
In our language lessons students develop core transferable skills for life. They learn to listen, speak, read and write well. They think deeply, not just about the structure of the foreign language, but also of their mother tongue. In addition to mastering communication in the written and spoken form, by interacting both with the teacher and their peers, they develop their skills of conversation, problem-solving and improvisation within a secure classroom environment supported by our core REACH values.
Our offer of trips abroad to France and Spain, as well as lunchtime clubs in German and Japanese, serve to deepen students’ understanding of foreign countries and culture, thereby inspiring a life-long love of travel, exploration and language-learning.
Key Stage 3 Curriculum Information
The KS3 curriculum is structured to lay a robust foundation of grammatical concepts, lexical items and essential language skills that will be developed further as students advance through their studies. In Year 7, the course is thoughtfully designed to cater for the diverse needs of all learners, fostering confidence among those embarking on their language journey from a beginner's standpoint while simultaneously enhancing the proficiency of students who have already established some foundational knowledge in Key Stage 2.
The Year 8 curriculum aims to allow students to revisit the core concepts encountered in Year 7, whilst extending these to further enhance their range of language across a variety of topics. Students are able to express their opinions in different contexts, understand others’ views and continue to practise the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing, whilst deepening their knowledge of grammar.
In Year 9, students are introduced to more complex vocabulary and grammatical structures, which empower them to achieve a greater command of the language. The curriculum is thoughtfully designed, taking into account the growing maturity and interests of our students as they transition into adolescence.
Key Stage 4 Curriculum Information
At Key Stage 4 we follow the AQA GCSE courses in French and Spanish. Students may also opt to study German ab initio at GCSE. The GCSE curriculum covers a broad range of topics based on the three broad themes of People and Lifestyle, Popular Culture and Communication and the World Around Us. Students practise the four component skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing throughout their study of these themes as these are equally weighted in the GCSE examination.
GCSE French 8652 | Specification | AQA
GCSE Spanish 8692 | Specification | AQA
GCSE German 8662 | Specification | AQA
Learning Journey
Curriculum Leader
Margaret Thompson