Modern Foreign Languages
Curriculum Leader: Mr A. Kennedy
We aim to be a thriving and innovative department that enthuses and supports all students to progress as much as possible from their individual starting points. To achieve this, we recognise the need to have consistent high standards and to challenge ourselves to constantly to overcome barriers and actively seek ways to improve how we teach to achieve maximum impact. We want all pupils to enjoy the experience of language learning, find out about other cultures and recognise the importance of this. We all strongly believe and share that it is invaluable for youngsters to grow up with positive attitudes towards other languages and cultures!
The MFL Department consists of 8 enthusiastic teachers and is housed together in a suite of 7 classrooms. Each of these classrooms benefit from a networked computer and an interactive whiteboard. In addition, pupils are able to benefit from using computer suites so students can individually benefit from online resources. Pupils also benefit from accessing online materials at home to complement the courses at each level of learning.
Staffing section
- Mr A Kennedy (Head of Languages)
- Ms E Caulton (2ndin MFL, Head of KS3)
- Miss J Greenfield
- Ms S Janssen
- Mrs R Malone
- Miss S Ruiz Garcia
- Miss H Southall
- Ms A Taylor
All students study a language throughout the three years of KS3. All students in Year 7 study Spanish, allowing them to develop a thorough introduction to the language. During Year 7, some students are also given the opportunity to study French as well, as part of a dual language KS3 course. Across KS3, there is generous provision, with 6 hours per fortnight allocated to languages. Throughout the course lessons are designed to allow students to progress across three areas – Vocabulary, Grammar and Pronunciation/Fluency. We also seek to maximise the use of cultural references to life in French and Spanish speaking countries in order to enhance enjoyment and progress. as well developing transferable skills to help their holistic development. The KS3 course naturally leads on to the KS4 programme of study.
Learning activities centre around different everyday topics, accompanied by appropriate grammar skills and lessons include a wide variety of speaking, listening, reading and writing activities. Regular End of Unit Assessments, at an appropriate level, provide ideal opportunities to reflect and begin to prepare learners for the style of assessments used in GCSE exams.
KS3 programme of Study overview
While we teach various topics, our Learning Journeys also emphasise to pupils the need to develop, through carefully scaffolded practice, an increasing level of grammar as they progress through the course.
| Year 7 Spanish | Year 8 Spanish | Year 9 Spanish |
| · Me presento | · Mi insti | · Yo y mi mundo |
| · Mi burbuja | · Dieta y salud | · De paseo por el mundo hispano |
| · Mis pasatiempos | · ¡Por fin de vacaciones! | · Identity and Relationships |
| · Mi casa | · Aquí mando yo | · Work and Education |
| · En mi ciudad | · Adict@s a la moda | · Healthy Living |
Year 7 French | Year 8 French | Year 9 French |
– Moi, et mes trucs à moi
| – Moi et mon avenir | – La santé pour tous |
– Ma vie active | – Le monde francophone | – La technologie |
– L’école pour tous | – On s’engage | – Identity and relationships with others
|
| – Trajets de vie | – Education and work
|
| – Les villes francophones | – Healthy living and lifestyle |
At Fulford, GCSE options are taken at the end of Year 9, with some students opting to carry on with both languages and a majority choosing to continue with either French or Spanish. We start to introduce GCSE topics during Year 9, which allows us to make rapid acceleration with the GCSE specification. It also provides time for final preparation and revision activities towards the end of Year 11. In Years 10 and 11, there are 5 hours per language per fortnight. Languages are popular choices and we follow the AQA GCSE courses. The courses in French and Spanish are set out in the same way and both have an option of either Foundation or Higher Exams. Students have individual practice oral exams at the end of Year 10, as well as during the Year 11 mocks, to ensure they are as fully prepared as possible for the GCSE oral, typically sat around Easter of Year 11. Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking all have 25% weighting in the final exams.
KS4 Programme of Study Overview
PLEASE NOTE THIS APPLIES ONLY FOR STUDENTS SITTING EXAMS IN 2025
Students study all of the following themes on which the assessments are based.
Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest
Theme 3: Current and future study and employment
Assessments
GCSE French has a Foundation Tier (grades 1–5) and a Higher Tier (grades 4–9). Students must take all four question papers at the same tier. All question papers must be taken in the same series.
Further information on the GCSE courses can be found via these links:
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/french-8658
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/spanish-8698
For students sitting GCSE exams in 2026 or beyond they will follow the new GCSE course so please read about it below:
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
Further information on the GCSE courses for exams in 2026 and beyond can be found via these links:
An A-level in a language is a treasured qualification, can balance any range of A-level choices and offers life-enriching opportunities. We use the AQA exam board, building on from the skills learned at GCSE. The French and Spanish courses contain themes based on Francophone and Hispanic society and culture and include options to study specific works of literature and films.
We offer A-levels in both French and Spanish and each year students consistently go on to continue their linguistic studies in Higher Education. These courses, with so much contact time and typically smaller groups, allow students to develop a much deeper knowledge of the language and culture of the Hispanic and Francophone worlds. It is a real pleasure supporting the speed of progress typically made by students, who regularly present topics themselves in lessons and who often support younger students in their lessons during non-contact hours.
In addition to normal lessons, students typically benefit from individual time with our Foreign Language Assistant to secure further improvement in their oral skills and accelerate preparation for their oral exam
Further information and guidance on these A Levels can be found via these links:
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/as-and-a-level/french-7652
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/as-and-a-level/spanish-7692
KS 5 Programme of Study overview
Spanish Course Overview
- Aspects of Hispanic society
- Artistic culture in the Hispanic world
- Multiculturalism in Hispanic society
- Aspects of political life in Hispanic society
- One text and one film or two texts from the list set in the specification
- Individual research project
For more details:
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/as-and-a-level/spanish-7692
French Course Overview
- Aspects of French-speaking society: current trends
- Aspects of French-speaking society: current issues
- Artistic culture in the French-speaking world
- Aspects of political life in the French-speaking world
- Grammar
- One text and one film or two texts from the list set in the specification
- Individual research project
For more details:
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/as-and-a-level/french-7652
We are always looking to give students different experiences and contexts, both during and out of lesson time. Sometimes this includes reference to historic events, festivals, traditions or culinary delights! We also encourage students to enter external competitions and have recently had both National and Regional recognition for pupils who have participated in the Spelling Bees Challenge and Young Translator Awards.
There are so many opportunities now for students to benefit from technology to expand their language interests. We encourage students to watch French/Spanish films and programmes as well as to complete online interactivities and games.
We promote events such as European Languages Day within school. Older students are encouraged to help younger students with their learning, while our Linguists of the Month competition rewards students who go the extra mile (kilometre!) both in and out of the classroom.
We also aim to include opportunities to develop other languages such as our twilight ‘Mandarin for Beginners’ taster sessions.
We are currently reviewing what trips abroad we may be able to offer in the future.