KS3 MFL
Currently, pupils are taught French on entering Year 7. By September 2013, some pupils will have the opportunity to study an additional language.
AIMS
By the end of Year 9, pupils will be expected to be working at Level 5/6 of the National Curriculum in all four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking). Level 5/6 is the standard expected of a typical fourteen year old.
KS3 STRATEGY
A key feature of language learning is the new KS3 Framework that gives emphasis to developing thinking skills and promoting pupils’ independence as language learners. Pupils should develop an understanding of what it means to learn a foreign language and have a range of strategies for researching new languages from the sources they meet. To this end pupils will learn about the different functions of words, how sentences are built up and how to make use of a wide range of clues and features such as connectives pronouns and tenses to understand or produce continuous text. These skills will be acquired through a range of exciting cross curricular project work. In years 7 and 8 we follow the I languages SOW combined with the EXPO tectbook. In year 9, we do project work combined with the Expo textbook.
FOUNDATION CERTIFICATE IN SECONDARY EDUCATION (FCSE)
This new nationally recognised qualification has been offered to students in the top sets of French. They are able to attain a Pass (Level 4), Merit (Level 5) or Distinction (Level 6) in all four skills. In 2012 we hope to offer the FCSE to some pupils in Years 7 and 8.
MFL SCHOOL VISIT
This is an annual event, which usually takes place during February half term. It is highly popular with KS3 students and for the last two years we have visited the French capital, Paris.
Key Stage 4
This course enables pupils to build on their skills from KS3. A language at GCSE level is extremely relevant in today’s globalised society.
A GCSE in French will make students more attractive to further and higher educational establishments. An increasing number of colleges and the top 20 Universities in the country preference students who have taken facilitating subjects, a modern foreign language is one of these. In fact, if pupils were to take the aforementioned EBacc route, this would cover all the facilitating subjects that are becoming increasingly important to A Level and Degree level entry.
Even if your child is not considering a University route, a GCSE in French enhances employment prospects. Please consider these facts:
- Research suggests the UK is missing out on contracts worth up to £21 billion a year because of the lack of language skills in the workforce
- Exporters who use language skills achieve on average 45 % more sales.
- 60% UK employers are dissatisfied with the foreign language skills of school leavers (mainly because fewer and fewer students are leaving school with a GCSE in a language).
- More than 30% UK businesses want people specifically for their language skills.
- 72% of UK international trade is with non-English-speaking countries.
- Most employers do not require complete fluency.
The School has been part of the Business Language Champions Project and has dealt and met with local employers who seek basic language skills.
Learning another language also facilitates travel outside of the UK, provides insight into other cultures and helps boost brain power (it’s the only subject where both sides of the brain have to work).
Students will develop their skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking via a wide range of cross curricular topics. The weighting of the skills is as follows:
- Listening: 20%
- Reading: 20%
- Speaking: 30%
- Writing: 30%
The Listening and Reading exams will take place as a terminal assessment at the end of KS4 studies.
Speaking and Writing are both conducted as Controlled Assessments. Your child will have several opportunities to undertake controlled assessments in these two skills throughout their KS4 studies. The best two speaking and writing pieces will then be submitted to the exam board for moderation, again at the end of their KS4 studies.
To support your child’s studies, the department runs an annual trip to France. This is open to Year 10 and Year 9 students, however, Year 10 students will have priority. We aim to teach using a variety of methods, including technology such as the Internet, Blogs, Video casts, VOKI, IPods, DVD etc.