Modern Foreign Languages Curriculum
Opening doors to the world through languages
Why study a language?
What languages develop
- Communication skills
- Transferable skills like problem solving
- A better understanding of the world around us
- Cultural understanding
Student voice
“French is one of my favourite lessons- the hour passes so quickly with all of the different activities we do. I love learning about French phonics!” Jane, Year 7
Key Stage 3 French– Cycle Overview
Cycle 1
Year 7
Knowledge focus
- Present tense verbs
- Adjectives
- m/f definite + indefinite articles + plurals
- Asking questions
- Connecting sentences
Key skills
- Describing yourself and your family
- Talking about your role models
- Understanding a French poem
Assessment
- Phonics test
- Reading and Listening to test vocabulary and grammar
- Translation
- Writing in French
Key Vocabulary
- 10-12 words per week of high frequency vocabulary
Year 8
Knowledge focus
- Expressing future events
- Using the negative
- Making irregular adjectives agree with the noun they describe
Key skills
- Describing what you do to be healthy
- Talking about your future plans
Assessment
- Phonics test
- Reading and Listening to test vocabulary and grammar
- Translation
- Writing in French
Key Vocabulary
- 10-12 words per week of high frequency vocabulary
Year 9
Knowledge focus
- Using three different tenses
- Making comparisons
- Using modal verbs
- Expressing opinions
Key skills
- Talking about your sense of personal identity
- Talking about the importance of being healthy
- Discussing school
Assessment
- Reading activities
- Dictation
- Extended writing and translation
Key Vocabulary
- 10-12 words per week of high frequency vocabulary
Cycle 2
Year 7
Knowledge focus
- Present tense verbs
- Tu / Vous
- Using il y a
- Using question words
- Adjectives
Key skills
- Talking about your hobbies
- Describing your school
Assessment
- Phonics test
- Reading and Listening to test vocabulary and grammar
Key Vocabulary
- 10-12 words per week of high frequency vocabulary
Year 8
Knowledge focus
- Describing celebrations
- Different ways of forming questions
- Using possessive adjectives
Key skills
- Understanding an extended poem about diversity
- Talking about jobs
Assessment
- Phonics test
- Reading and Listening to test vocabulary and grammar
Key Vocabulary
- 10-12 words per week of high frequency vocabulary
Year 9
Knowledge focus
- Describing events in three tenses
- Using infinitives
- Understanding French music and celebrities
Key skills
- Describing your favourite singers and celebrities
- Describing holiday preferences in three tenses
Assessment
- Phonics test
- Reading and Listening to test vocabulary and grammar
Key Vocabulary
- 10-12 words per week of high frequency vocabulary
Cycle 3
Year 7
Knowledge focus
- Present tense – aller + ‘re’ ‘ir’
- Asking questions
- Using ‘in’
- Using negatives
Key skills
- Describing a holiday
- Describing what you do to be healthy
- Understanding a French poem
Assessment
- Phonics test
- Reading and Listening activities to test vocabulary and grammar
- Translation
- Writing in French
Key Vocabulary
- 10-12 words per week of high frequency vocabulary
Year 8
Knowledge focus
- Describing events in the past and the future
- Using ‘je vais aller’ + infinitive to discuss future plans
- Changing ‘er’ verbs into the past tense
Key skills
- Talking about past, present and future celebrations
- Planning a future party
Assessment
- Phonics test
- Reading and Listening activities to test vocabulary and grammar
- Translation
- Writing in French
Key Vocabulary
- 10-12 words per week of high frequency vocabulary
Year 9
Knowledge focus
- Describing your interests in sport, technology and cinema
- Using three tenses
- Extending opinions and reasons
Key skills
- Describing a photocard and developing spontaneous speaking
- Describing outings in extended writing
Assessment
- Phonics test
- Reading and Listening activities to test vocabulary and grammar
- Translation
- Writing in French
Key Vocabulary
- 10-12 words per week of high frequency vocabulary
Key Stage 3 Spanish– Cycle Overview
Cycle 1
Year 7
Knowledge focus
- Using verbs: estar, ser and tener
- Asking questions
- Talking about what people do using ‘ar’ verbs
Key skills
- Describing who you are
- Talking about your friends and family
Assessment
- Phonics test
- Reading and Listening to test vocabulary and grammar
- Translation
- Writing in Spanish
Key Vocabulary
- 10-12 words per week of high frequency vocabulary
Year 8
Knowledge focus
- Using ‘deber’ to describe school and rules
- Using ‘hay’ to describe your family and your town
- ‘er’ and ‘ir’ verbs
Key skills
- Describing what you like to eat and drink
- Talking about technology
Assessment
- Phonics test
- Reading and Listening to test vocabulary and grammar
- Translation
- Writing in Spanish
Key Vocabulary
- 10-12 words per week of high frequency vocabulary
Year 9
Knowledge focus
- Describing feelings ‘dar’ and ‘querer’
- Using the verb ‘ir’
- Understanding challenging texts
- How people use technology and social media
Key skills
- Discussing past and future holidays
- Describing Spanish food
- Discussing the pros / cons of technology
Assessment
- Reading activities
- Dictation
- Extended writing and translation
Key Vocabulary
- 10-12 words per week of high frequency vocabulary
Cycle 2
Year 7
Knowledge focus
- Using plurals
- Talking about what there is using ‘hay’
- Talking about location and describing that place
- Giving and wanting
- Natural wonders of the Spanish-speaking world
Key skills
- Expressing and developing opinions
- Describing a photo
- Talking about your favourite place in detail
- Talking about your family
Assessment
- Phonics test
- Reading and Listening to test vocabulary and grammar
Key Vocabulary
- 10-12 words per week of high frequency vocabulary
Year 8
Knowledge focus
- Present tense verbs
- Possessive pronouns
- The verb ‘ir’
- Future tense
- Past tense
Key skills
- Talking about places you’ll visit and future plans
- Describing past events
- Writing in three different tenses
Assessment
- Phonics test
- Reading and Listening to test vocabulary and grammar
Key Vocabulary
- 10-12 words per week of high frequency vocabulary
Year 9
Knowledge focus
- Reflexive verbs
- Narrating events
- Describing birthdays
- Developing complex opinions
Key skills
- Describing your daily routine
- Describing music events in three tenses
Assessment
- Phonics test
- Reading and Listening to test vocabulary and grammar
Key Vocabulary
- 10-12 words per week of high frequency vocabulary
Cycle 3
Year 7
Knowledge focus
- Asking and answering questions
- Saying what people can, must and want do ‘poder, querer, deber’
- Use prepositions to describe locations
- Understanding the differences between traits and moods
Key skills
- Talk about your hobbies and express opinions
- Describing the different seasons and what you do during them
- Describing travel preferences
Assessment
- Phonics test
- Reading and Listening activities to test vocabulary and grammar
- Translation
- Writing in Spanish
Key Vocabulary
- 10-12 words per week of high frequency vocabulary
Year 8
Knowledge focus
- Making comparisons in the present tense
- Using ‘hacer’ to describe what you do at home
- Describing present and past events
Key skills
- Describing your interests
- Writing in three tenses
Assessment
- Phonics test
- Reading and Listening activities to test vocabulary and grammar
- Translation
- Writing in Spanish
Key Vocabulary
- 10-12 words per week of high frequency vocabulary
Year 9
Knowledge focus
- Present tense
- Para and infinitive
- Possessive adjectives
- Demonstrative pronouns
- Making comparisons
- Past tense
- Adverbs
Key skills
- Talking about your future
- Developing writing using three tenses
- Talking about your role models and inspirations
Assessment
- Phonics test
- Reading and Listening activities to test vocabulary and grammar
- Translation
- Writing in Spanish
Key Vocabulary
- 10-12 words per week of high frequency vocabulary
Key Stage 4 French
Cycle 1
Year 10
Knowledge focus
- Talking about yourself, your friends and family and marriage
- Healthy living
Key skills
- Describing a photo and being able to take part in a role play
- Extended pieces of writing expressing opinions and using a range of complex language
Assessment
- Extended writing
- Reading and Listening past paper questions
- Regular vocabulary tests
Key Vocabulary
- High frequency from KS3 is revisited
- AQA spec vocabulary
Year 11
Knowledge focus
- Travel and tourism
- Town and environment
Key skills
- Spontaneous speaking
- Writing under controlled conditions
- Reading and listening for gist, detail and inference
Assessment
- Writing paper
- Listening paper
- Reading paper
Key Vocabulary
- High frequency from KS3 is revisited
- AQA spec vocabulary
Cycle 2
Year 10
Knowledge focus
- The world of work and education
- Customs and traditions
Key skills
- Reading for inference
- Dictation
- Spontaneous speaking
- Developing writing skills
Assessment
- Extended writing
- Reading and Listening past paper questions
- Regular vocabulary tests
Key Vocabulary
- High frequency from KS3 is revisited
- AQA spec vocabulary
Year 11
Knowledge focus
- The world of technology
Key skills
- Spontaneous speaking
- Writing under controlled conditions
- Reading + listening for gist, detail and inference
Assessment
- Writing paper
- Listening paper
- Reading paper
- Speaking exam
Key Vocabulary
- High frequency from KS3 is revisited
- AQA spec vocabulary
Cycle 3
Year 10
Knowledge focus
- Celebrity culture
- Free time
Key skills
- Describing a photo and being able to take part in a role play
- Extended pieces of writing expressing opinions and using a range of complex language
Assessment
- Writing paper
- Listening paper
- Reading paper
- Speaking exam
Key Vocabulary
- High frequency from KS3 is revisited
- AQA spec vocabulary
Year 11
Knowledge focus
- Revision and preparation for exams
Key skills
- Past paper practice
- Spontaneous speaking
- Writing under controlled conditions
- Reading and listening for gist, detail and inference
Assessment
- GCSE examinations
Key Vocabulary
- High frequency from KS3 is revisited
- AQA spec vocabulary
Key Stage 4 Spanish
Cycle 1
Year 10
Knowledge focus
- Talking about yourself, your friends and family and marriage
- Healthy living
Key skills
- Describing a photo and being able to take part in a role play
- Extended pieces of writing expressing opinions and using a range of complex language
Assessment
- Extended writing
- Reading and Listening past paper questions
- Regular vocabulary tests
Key Vocabulary
- High frequency from KS3 is revisited
- AQA spec vocabulary
Year 11
Knowledge focus
- Travel and tourism
- Town and environment
Key skills
- Spontaneous speaking
- Writing under controlled conditions
- Reading and listening for gist, detail and inference
Assessment
- Writing paper
- Listening paper
- Reading paper
Key Vocabulary
- High frequency from KS3 is revisited
- AQA spec vocabulary
Cycle 2
Year 10
Knowledge focus
- The world of work and education
- Customs and traditions
Key skills
- Reading for inference
- Dictation
- Spontaneous speaking
- Developing writing skills
Assessment
- Extended writing
- Reading and Listening past paper questions
- Regular vocabulary tests
Key Vocabulary
- High frequency from KS3 is revisited
- AQA spec vocabulary
Year 11
Knowledge focus
- The world of technology
Key skills
- Spontaneous speaking
- Writing under controlled conditions
- Reading + listening for gist, detail and inference
Assessment
- Writing paper
- Listening paper
- Reading paper
- Speaking exam
Key Vocabulary
- High frequency from KS3 is revisited
- AQA spec vocabulary
Cycle 3
Year 10
Knowledge focus
- Celebrity culture
- Free time
Key skills
- Describing a photo and being able to take part in a role play
- Extended pieces of writing expressing opinions and using a range of complex language
Assessment
- Writing paper
- Listening paper
- Reading paper
- Speaking exam
Key Vocabulary
- High frequency from KS3 is revisited
- AQA spec vocabulary
Year 11
Knowledge focus
- Revision and preparation for exams
Key skills
- Past paper practice
- Spontaneous speaking
- Writing under controlled conditions
- Reading and listening for gist, detail and inference
Assessment
- GCSE examinations
Key Vocabulary
- High frequency from KS3 is revisited
- AQA spec vocabulary
Key Stage 5 French
Cycle 1
Year 12
Knowledge focus
- Learning about the changing face of family life in French and Francophone countries
- Learning about the importance of heritage, both physical and cultural, in French and Francophone countries.
Key Skills
- Use of present/ perfect/imperfect tenses.
- Introduction of subjunctive.
- Adjectival agreement.
- Using sentences with si.
Assessment
Key Vocabulary
- AQA A-level specification vocab lists for both topics
Year 13
Knowledge focus
- Diversity within French and Francophone society
- Political engagement within French and Francophone countries
- How to develop IRP topics
- Continue working on La Haine
- Start topics on the marginalised in French/Francophone societies and strikes and demonstrations in the French speaking world.
Key skills
- Embedding key grammar structures: present/future/ conditional
- Use of passive voice
- Develop knowledge of subjunctive mood to talk about data/trends and doubt.
Assessment
- Prelims
- End of topic assessments covering all four skills over the two topics studied
Key Vocabulary
- AQA A-level specification vocab lists for both topics
Cycle 2
Year 12
Knowledge focus
- Cyber-society and how technology impacts on daily life in France and Francophone countries
- Contemporary French music and its influences
- Start studying the book ‘Un sac de billes’ and looking at the context (2nd World War experience for the French Jewish community).
Key skills
- Use of infinitive constructions
- Using object pronouns
- Continue to look at present tense
- Using questions and imperative forms
- Continue to look at subjunctive. Conditional tense
- Analysing text in French.
Assessment
- End of topic assessment in all four skills for both topics
- Essay for text
Key Vocabulary
- AQA A-level specification vocab lists for both topics
- Glossary provided to support reading of text.
Year 13
Knowledge focus
- Continue topics on the marginalised in French and Francophone societies.
- Strikes and demonstrations within the French speaking world.
- Review of text and film.
- Criminality and immigration in France.
- Complete work on IRP.
Key skills
- Recognising past historic tense. Using wider range of complex tenses with confidence
- Future perfect/conditional perfect. Exam skills
- Deeper analysis of text/film.
Assessment
- Prelims. End of topic assessments for all topics covering the four skills (one per topic).
Key Vocabulary
- AQA A-level specification vocab lists for both topics.
- Glossary for text/film.
Cycle 3
Year 12
Knowledge focus
- The role of volunteers in French and Francophone society
- The importance of film and cinema in French and Francophone culture.
- Continue with ‘Un sac de billes’
- Begin studying set film ‘La haine’
Key skills
- Conditional tense with ‘si’
- Form and use future tense
- Extended tenses – pluperfect and past conditional with si
- Connectives – extended and with subjunctive
- Analysis of film/text
- Introduction of IRP
Assessment
- End of year assessment – full AS paper including speaking.
Key Vocabulary
- AQA A-level specification vocab lists for both topics
- Key vocab list for analysis.
Year 13
Knowledge focus
- Embedding knowledge from year 12 and 13 – review of topics/film/text.
Key skills
- Review/revision of key grammar terms and exam skills
Assessment
- Final A-level exam, including speaking exam
Key Vocabulary
- AQA A-level specification vocab lists for both topics
- Key vocab list for analysis.
Key Stage 5 Spanish
Cycle 1
Year 12
Knowledge focus
- Traditional and modern family life in Spain and Hispanic societies
- The influence of celebrities on young people in Spanish speaking cultures.
Key Skills
- Imperfect and preterite tenses
- Use of passive voice
- Direct and indirect object pronouns
Assessment
Key Vocabulary
- AQA A-level specification vocab lists for both topics
Year 13
Knowledge focus
- Multiculturalism within Hispanic society: focus on immigration and racism in Spain and the wider Spanish speaking world
- Aspects of political life in the Hispanic world: young people and politics in the Spanish speaking world
- Continue work on IRP
- Continue working on film.
Key skills
- Embedding key grammar structures: present/ preterit/future/ conditional
- Develop knowledge of subjunctive mood to use with different tenses.
Assessment
- Prelims
- End of topic assessments covering all four skills over the two topics studied
Key Vocabulary
- AQA A-level specification vocab lists for both topics
Cycle 2
Year 12
Knowledge focus
- Learning about the influence of technology on everyday life
- Regional identity in Spain
- Introduce film and analysis
- Introduce IRP
Key skills
- Review of present and present continuous tenses
- Using future and conditional
- Introducing the subjunctive tense.
Assessment
- End of topic assessments for both topics covering all skills
- Essay writing
Key Vocabulary
- AQA A-level specification vocab lists for both topics
- Phrases to support analysis of film.
Year 13
Knowledge focus
- Multiculturalism within Hispanic society: focus on integration in society within Spanish speaking countries
- Aspects of political life in the Hispanic world: looking at Monarchies and Dictatorships and popular political movements in Spain and other Spanish speaking communities
- Revision of text and film
- Continue to develop IRP
Key skills
- Use of more complex tenses and extended language
- Developing exam skills.
Assessment
- Prelims. End of topic assessments for all topics covering the four skills
Key Vocabulary
- AQA A-level specification vocab lists for both topics.
- Glossary for text/film. Essay writing key phrases.
Cycle 3
Year 12
Knowledge focus
- Equality in the Hispanic world
- Cultural heritage in Spain and Spanish speaking countries
- Continue studying film
- Start studying text
- IRP skills
Key skills
- Speaking/presentation skills (IRP)
- Consolidating tenses and using more complex structures
- Exam skills – translation/summaries
Assessment
- End of year exam covering full AS paper (speaking, essay writing, reading, writing and listening)
Key Vocabulary
- AQA A-level specification vocab lists for both topics
- Key vocab list for analysis.
Year 13
Knowledge focus
- Embedding knowledge from year 12 and 13 – review of topics/film/text.
Key skills
- Review/revision of key grammar terms and exam skills
Assessment
- Final A-level exam, including speaking exam
Key Vocabulary
- AQA A-level specification vocab lists for both topics
- Key vocab list for analysis.
For Key Stage 5 Curriculum information please click link here to our Sixth Form Curriculum