Spanish
Spanish
The vision of Spanish within our curriculum is to develop confident, resilient and culturally aware communicators who can thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. Through language learning, students develop linguistic competence and an understanding of diverse cultures and perspectives. In MFL, students are ambitious in striving to communicate with increasing accuracy and fluency, respectful of different cultures and viewpoints, and courageous in taking risks and learning from mistakes.
Spanish contributes to students’ wider education by developing communication, memory, problem-solving and critical thinking skills, while fostering curiosity, empathy and global awareness. It broadens horizons and provides valuable foundations for further study, employment and international opportunities.
Our curriculum is designed to develop secure knowledge of phonics, vocabulary and grammar alongside the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students also gain cultural capital through learning about the traditions, customs and contemporary life of Spanish-speaking countries.
At Key Stage 3, the curriculum is underpinned by Dr Gianfranco Conti’s Extensive Processing Instruction (EPI) methodology. Through carefully sequenced sentence builders, comprehensible input and extensive recycling of language, students learn and retain language in meaningful chunks rather than isolated words. This approach develops confidence, fluency and long-term retention while reducing cognitive overload and supporting successful language acquisition for all learners.
The curriculum is ambitious and inclusive, with high expectations for all students, including those with SEND and disadvantaged backgrounds. Careful sequencing, retrieval practice, adaptive teaching and appropriate scaffolding ensure that every student can access, retain and apply new language successfully.
The curriculum fully meets the requirements of the National Curriculum for Modern Foreign Languages and provides a clear progression pathway into the Edexcel GCSE Spanish specification (first examination 2026). Through a carefully sequenced programme of study, students develop the knowledge, skills and cultural understanding needed for success at GCSE and beyond.
Students say…
"Learning a language has made me more confident and shown me that I can communicate with people from all over the world."
"Learning about culture through the enrichment activities and trips make languages feel real – it's not just about learning words, it's about understanding how people live in different countries”
What are the key features of the programmes of study?
Our Key Stage 3 Spanish curriculum is based on the Viva! & Onda courses and is designed to develop students’ confidence in listening, speaking, reading and writing. The curriculum is carefully sequenced to build knowledge of phonics, vocabulary and grammar over time.
What will my child study in Year 7?
In year 7, students build a foundation in Spanish phonics, vocabulary and basic grammar. Topics include introducing themselves, family and friends, school, hobbies, free time, technology, food and local area. Students learn to understand and produce simple spoken and written Spanish while developing confidence in using key language structures.
What will my child study in Year 8?
In year 8, students extend their vocabulary and grammatical knowledge through topics such as holidays, media, food & celebrations, daily life, town and region, and future plans. Students begin to express opinions in greater detail and communicate using a wider range of tenses and structures.
What will my child study in Year 9?
In Year 9, students further develop their fluency and accuracy while preparing for the demands of GCSE study. Topics include, lifestyle & health living, travel and tourism, work and aspirations, and the environment. Students work with more complex language and are encouraged to communicate with increasing independence across all four language skills.
How are the groups organised?
Spanish is taught in mixed-ability teaching groups throughout Key Stage 3. Lessons are designed to be inclusive and challenging for all learners, with appropriate support and stretch provided to enable every student to make strong progress.
What equipment is needed?
Students should bring a blue or black pen, a purple pen for marking and improving their work, and a ruler. Students may also bring a Spanish dictionary if they wish; however, dictionaries are available in all classrooms.
How is the course assessed?
Students are formatively assessed in every lesson through activities such as mini quizzes, mini-whiteboard tasks, retrieval practice, targeted questioning and teacher checks for understanding. Summative assessments take place once each half term and assess students’ progress against the knowledge and skills taught. Students also complete an end-of-year assessment.
How do you give feedback to students?
Feedback is provided regularly to support student progress. During lessons, teachers give immediate verbal feedback and address misconceptions through questioning, mini-whiteboard tasks and class discussion. Following assessments, students take part in whole-class feedback lessons which focus on common strengths and areas for improvement. After extended writing assessments, students receive a detailed green feedback sheet containing personalised targets and guidance to help them improve future work.
What course(s) is/are offered?
Students study the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Spanish (9–1) qualification (2024 specification). The course develops competence in listening, speaking, reading and writing, alongside cultural understanding of the Spanish-speaking world.
Link to specifications
What will my child study in Year 10?
In Year 10, students begin the GCSE course through the Pearson Edexcel Spanish textbook (2024). They study the first set of core themes, including: My Personal World (identity, relationships and daily life), Lifestyle and Wellbeing (free time, healthy living and routines), and aspects of Media and Technology. Students build secure foundations in vocabulary, phonics and grammar, while developing confidence in using present, past and future tenses. All four skills are taught from the outset, with regular spoken interaction and structured writing practice.
What will my child study in Year 11?
In Year 11, students complete the remaining GCSE themes: My Neighbourhood, Studying and My Future, and Travel and Tourism. These topics extend students’ ability to communicate in more complex and extended language. There is a strong focus on exam preparation, including speaking role plays, photocard tasks, general conversation, reading comprehension, translation skills, and extended writing. Grammar is consolidated and refined, with increasing emphasis on accuracy and spontaneity.
How is the course assessed?
The GCSE Spanish course is assessed through four externally examined papers, each worth 25% of the final grade:
- Paper 1: Listening and Understanding in Spanish
- Paper 2: Speaking in Spanish (conducted in school and marked externally)
- Paper 3: Reading and Understanding in Spanish
- Paper 4: Writing in Spanish
Each paper assesses students’ ability to understand and use Spanish in a range of real-life contexts linked to the specification themes. Assessment is tiered (Foundation and Higher), with final exams taken at the end of Year 11.
What course(s) is/are offered?
Students study AQA A-level Spanish (7692). A Level Spanish builds on the language skills developed at GCSE, helping students become confident, independent linguists with a deeper understanding of the Spanish-speaking world. Students develop advanced listening, speaking, reading and writing skills while exploring culture, society and the political landscape of the Spanish-speaking world. The course also strengthens valuable transferable skills, including communication, critical thinking and research, providing an excellent foundation for university, employment and careers with an international dimension.
Link to specifications
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/spanish/a-level/spanish-7692/specification/specification-at-a-glance
What will my child study in Year 12?
In Year 12, students begin the A-level course by developing core linguistic foundations and strengthening their ability to communicate in increasingly complex Spanish. They study the themes Aspects of Hispanic society (including modern and traditional family structures, the digital world and youth culture) and Artistic culture in the Hispanic world (including music, festivals and traditions). Students also study a film in Spanish, developing critical thinking skills and cultural understanding. Grammar is systematically revisited and extended, with a strong focus on translation skills and accuracy.
What will my child study in Year 13?
In Year 13, students complete the remaining A-level content through the theme Multiculturalism in Hispanic society, including immigration, integration and cultural diversity. They study a literary book, developing more sophisticated analytical and evaluative responses. Students also complete the Independent Research Project (IRP), exploring an area of personal interest related to the Spanish-speaking world. There is a strong focus on exam preparation across all skills, including essay writing, translation, summary skills and spoken fluency for the speaking examination.
How is the course assessed?
The AQA A-level Spanish course is assessed through three externally examined papers:
- Paper 1: Listening, Reading and Writing (includes translation into and from Spanish and a critical response to the set text or film)
- Paper 2: Writing (essay on the set text or film studied)
- Paper 3: Speaking (discussion of an Independent Research Project and one sub-theme linked to the specification)
All assessments are taken at the end of Year 13. Students are assessed on their ability to communicate fluently and accurately, analyse authentic materials critically, and demonstrate a high level of grammatical control and spontaneity in Spanish.
What will the course allow me to progress to in the future?
A-level Spanish is a facilitating subject that supports progression to a wide range of university courses and careers. It is highly valued by universities and employers for developing strong communication, analytical and intercultural skills. Students may progress to degrees in languages, translation, interpreting, international relations, business, law, politics and area studies, or combine Spanish with other disciplines. It also opens pathways into careers in diplomacy, international business, journalism, tourism, education and global organisations where language skills and cultural awareness are highly prized.
The Spanish curriculum within the MFL department is delivered by a team of experienced, multilingual teachers who bring a wide range of linguistic expertise and real-world experience to their teaching. Staff have studied, lived and worked abroad, and have also used languages in professional contexts beyond education, enabling them to enrich lessons with authentic cultural insight and practical examples of how Spanish is used in everyday and global settings. This depth of expertise ensures that students are exposed not only to accurate language models, but also to the cultural nuance and communicative confidence needed to use Spanish meaningfully.Teaching approaches are consistently research-informed and centred on communicative language teaching. Lessons prioritise high levels of exposure to the target language, supported by modelling, sentence builders and structured scaffolding to ensure all learners can access and succeed with increasingly complex Spanish. Speaking, listening, reading and writing are integrated throughout lessons, with regular opportunities for interaction, guided practice and independent production.
Retention and application of knowledge are secured through systematic retrieval practice and carefully sequenced curricula. Regular low-stakes quizzes, mini-whiteboard tasks and questioning revisit prior learning, while key vocabulary and grammatical structures are continually recycled across topics to strengthen long-term memory and fluency.
Literacy is developed through explicit teaching of vocabulary, grammar and sentence structure, enabling students to build accurate and sophisticated responses in Spanish while strengthening wider reading and writing skills. Numeracy is reinforced through authentic use of dates, time, prices and quantities in context. Technology is used purposefully to support learning, including digital quizzes, audio resources, interactive platforms and online tools to enhance listening, pronunciation and independent study skills.
Homework in Modern Foreign Languages is designed to reinforce classroom learning, develop independent study skills and build students' confidence over time. At Key Stage 3, homework is set twice a half term to consolidate vocabulary and lesson content, practise exam-style questions, and complete cultural research or project-based tasks. At Key Stage 4, students receive homework on a fortnightly basis, focusing on grammar, vocabulary retrieval and the development of GCSE exam skills. At Key Stage 5, homework is set weekly to support students in mastering A Level content, refining language skills and preparing for assessments through independent reading, listening, writing and grammar practice.
Our Modern Foreign Languages enrichment programme brings language learning to life by providing students with meaningful opportunities to experience languages beyond the classroom. Through cultural workshops, theatre performances, careers events, competitions and international links, students develop confidence, curiosity and a greater appreciation of the diverse cultures of the French and Spanish-speaking worlds.
Highlights include Year 7 international dance workshops, Year 8 interactive, foreign-language theatre performances, a careers event exploring the role of languages in industry, and a KS4 pen-pal exchange with partner schools in Latin America and France. Students across the school also celebrate the European Day of Languages and compete in our annual MFL Spelling Bee, fostering enthusiasm and a healthy sense of competition.
Our enrichment programme extends classroom learning, broadens students' cultural capital and demonstrates the value of languages in an increasingly global society. Students also have the opportunity to experience language and culture first-hand through our residential visit to Paris, and we are excited to be planning further residential trips to France and Spain in the future.
