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Modern Languages
All Year 7 students study French in their first year at Heart of England School. French is already being taught in many of our feeder schools, following the government’s initiative to introduce foreign language teaching in all primary schools by 2010, and this is one of a number of compelling reasons why we have adopted a “fast-track” policy. All students follow the same course based on the newly published textbook “Expo 1,” although the top sets work at a higher level of study so that they can take their GCSE at the end of Year 9. Setting takes place at the end of the first half term, but it is still possible, and indeed desirable, for some movement between sets during the remainder of the year.
As a Business and Enterprise College we recognise the importance of foreign language skills in the global workplace, particularly at a time of decreasing language provision in many state schools. Thus in addition to their study of French, students in sets two and three have the opportunity to study a second foreign language, German or Spanish. Students study both their first and second language for three hours per fortnight. Thus by the end of Year 9 they should be competent in two foreign languages and well equipped to continue one or both of their languages to GCSE. Fast-track students study only one foreign language in Years 7-9 to maximise their chances of attaining at least a grade C at GCSE, and in order to lay good foundations for the study of a second foreign language in Year 10.
In Year 10 we offer all three languages, French, German and Spanish, and although no longer compulsory, the majority of our students choose to continue their foreign language(s) to GCSE.
In the Sixth Form students can continue their study of French and Spanish to AS/A2 level. Through our partnership with Arden School, which is a specialist languages college, we are hoping to increase the choice and number of languages on offer.
The MFL Department is staffed by 8 teachers, including a native French speaker, and teaching is further enhanced by a foreign language assistant. Students can participate in annual exchanges to France and Germany. In the Sixth Form it is possible to arrange work experience abroad.
In summary, we aim to offer challenge and create opportunities for all our students to succeed in a multilingual world.
Languages are everyone’s business!
