Modern Foreign Languages

Welcome to the Kingsmead School Modern Foreign Languages Department.

Languages are part of the cultural richness of our society and the world in which we live and work. We aim to develop our young people into confident global citizens of the 21st century who are passionate about languages and realise their importance in our ever-changing world. Our curriculum enables all students to understand and communicate in another language. This is a lifelong skill for education, employment and leisure in this country and throughout the world.

At Key Stage 3 (Years 7 & 8), students start their language studies with a carousel of French, German and Spanish in Year 7 and will continue with their preference into Year 8. Language learning is made vibrant and interesting by using a wide range of teaching and learning styles. We provide lessons which are engaging, challenging and stimulating to students of all abilities and encourage that sense of achievement and satisfaction which comes from successfully communicating in a foreign language. We want all students to discover their potential as individual learners who are open to new experiences, are risk-takers and imaginative thinkers.

At Key Stage 4 (Years 9, 10 & 11), students are offered the choice of French, German and Spanish. Students can obtain a GCSE in two foreign languages by opting to study a second foreign language. Students with two language qualifications are highly sought after and are a rarity in the current labour market. The GCSE involves assessment in the four key skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students follow the Edexcel GCSE course which has a real-world focus with a practical content and a focus on students’ interests. Topics include Media and Culture, Sport and Leisure, Travel and Tourism and Business, Work and Employment. For those students that find examinations challenging, we also offer Global Business Communication, which combines business studies with language learning.

Classroom teaching is supplemented with visits to France, Germany and Spain to learn first-hand more about the life and culture of our neighbouring countries. Year 7 students can take part in a Study Visit to either Normandy in France or The Rhineland in Germany. They really see the foreign language in action and their language skills can be tried, tested and improved – an invaluable experience! Years 9 and 10 students can spend a week in Germany or Spain to embed their newly acquired language and offer a chance to discover and explore the area through excursions and activities. In Germany, visits to our partner school in Plettenberg – The Albert-Schweitzer-Gymnasium, is a unique opportunity and strengthens our knowledge and skills of language learning.  

Sequence of Learning in MFL

This is a summary of the topics studied in MFL at Kingsmead School.

Top 5 Websites

For additional learning and revision in this subject, see these websites:

1. Linguascope (see your teacher for the username/password) www.linguascope.com
2. ActiveLearn (KS4 only - see your teacher for your username/ password) www.pearsonactivelearn.com
3. Online Dictionary www.wordreference.com
4. BBC GCSE Bitesize www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize
5. Language learning activities www.languagesonline.org.uk

MFL Progress Overviews
These are designed to outline the progression of MFL based learning within each year group. They make clear the skills, understanding and knowledge within each category of our language for learning.