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Key Stage 3

Units of work, Grouping of students, assessment and expected standards

The KS3 curriculum is structured to enable pupils to develop skills and linguistic competence within a range of topic areas.

Assessment

KS3 pupils will be assessed during the course of and sometimes at the end of each unit of work. We will assess different skill areas at different times (listening, speaking, reading and writing). Pupils’ performance in these assessments combined with their work in class and homework will be used to decide which level they are working at. Pupils’ target levels for the end of KS3 and current levels of progress are available on the Sims Learning Gateway. 

On the annual report students will be given a National Curriculum level. This will be based on work throughout the year.  As a broad indication, some pupils could expect to achieve up to level 4 by the end of Year 7, level 5 by the end of Year 8 and up to level 7 by the end of Year 9.

Units of work: Year 7

• Self and Family
• School
• Hobbies

Units of work: Year 8

• Leisure Time
• House and Home
• Town and Local Area

Units of work: Year 9

• Travel and Tourism
• Healthy Lifestyles
• Media
• Environment

Key Stage 4

Units of work, Grouping of students, assessment and expected standards

Pupils have the opportunity to continue with French and German in KS4. In addition, pupils may choose to study Italian or Spanish.

GCSE Languages

Pupils will cover a range of vocabulary and structures in the following topic areas:

• Media and Culture
• Sport and Leisure
• Travel and Tourism
• Business, Work and Employment
• Future plans and Education.

Pupils will continue to develop the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing.  Listening and reading are assessed separately by terminal examination.  Speaking and writing are assessed through Controlled Assessments.

The form of the assessments:

Most instructions and questions in all papers will be in English.

1. In the Reading and Listening, most tasks are of the multiple-choice, matching and sequencing type.  There are only a few questions in the target language, mainly at Higher level. (40%)

Pupils can be entered at either Foundation or Higher Level in each separate skill area.  The level at which pupils are entered is based on progress during the course.

2. In the Speaking, pupils will be assessed using two of the following tasks: a short presentation followed by questions: a discussion based on a picture: an extended role play. (30%)

3. In the Writing, pupils will need to complete two pieces of coursework.  The tasks cover a variety of topic areas. (30%)

Pupils are assessed by Controlled Assessment throughout a course.  Tasks in Speaking and Writing are not split into Foundation and Higher level. Information about Controlled Assessment and assessment deadlines will vary for each language. Controlled Assessments are conducted by the class teacher.  Pupils will have up to four lessons of formal preparation prior to completing their final assessment.  Controlled Assessments in Writing have to be completed in a one hour lesson. Controlled Assessments in Speaking will last up to six minutes.

Additional Courses:

NVQ Level 1/2

Some pupils may be advised to follow a course that leads to NVQ certification. This course is designed to equip pupils to use the target language in a working environment. The course is based on continuous assessment. There is no terminal examination.

Spanish

Pupils are offered the opportunity to study Spanish as a second foreign language from scratch in Year 10. All pupils will take a nationally recognised examination.  Pupils may progress to GCSE at Foundation or Higher Level.  Some pupils may be entered for NVQ Level 1.

A small number of pupils may be offered the opportunity to continue with an alternative second language, if study has already begun in Year 9.

Home Learning Opportunities

In MFL it is important to set homework:

• To give pupils the opportunity to consolidate/improve/extend their classroom learning
• To enable pupils to carry out more independent tasks
• To allow pupils to use their preferred way of working/learning to complete tasks

Homework is set according to the school guidelines and appropriate to the ability of the group.  Types of task may include:

• completing worksheets
• vocabulary learning
• on-line ICT activities and research
• grammar exercises
• preparing, drafting and learning for assessments.

Homework builds progressively from Yr 7 to Yr 11:

• Year 7 and 8, approximately 30 minutes per week.
• Year 9, approximately 45 minutes per week.
• Years 10 and 11, at least 45 minutes per week but this would increase during preparation for Controlled Assessment tasks.

Gifted & Talented Opportunities

Gifted linguists are identified using the following criteria:

• ease in memorising large quantities of material using previously learnt strategies
• ability to work independently and to take own learning forward
• proactive in asking relevant questions and following up leads
• ability to spot patterns and make connections resulting in spontaneous language
• understanding of and ability to use concepts such as verb tenses and case endings consistently

KS3

The following activities are taking place at present or have been offered through our extension and enrichment programme:

• Language clubs in Japanese, Italian, Chinese, Russian and Greek

• Supervised use of IT facilities at lunch time to broaden range of languages experienced and allow pupils to manage their own learning.  At present we offer the following languages:  French, German, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Arabic, Turkish, Japanese, Russian and Chinese

• Year 8 Latin taster sessions over ten weeks with the opportunity to continue.

• Year 9 Latin tuition

• Year 8 Mandarin in Language Curriculum time. (8 lessons per group)

• Inter School German Poetry Competition

• French Theatre company visits

• MFL based visits to Paignton Zoo/Combe Martin Wildlife Park

KS4

The following curriculum options are available:

• Spanish: Higher Level GCSE after only 5 terms, building on skills already developed in French and German

• Higher Level GCSE in year 10 followed by transition to AS Level tasks in year 11

• Second language in extra curricular time, leading to Higher GCSE Level in year 10

•  Japanese as a curriculum option

We provide support for our most able linguists during curriculum time in the following ways:

• All MFL groups are allocated time in L2, our dedicated MFL computer suite.  Differentiated materials are available and able linguists are able to work on grammar and vocabulary tasks outside the normal KS3 and KS4 curriculum.

• Increased contact time with our Foreign Language Assistants at KS4 allows able linguists to develop extended responses and widen vocabulary areas.

• A structured programme of revision sessions for year 10 and year 11 examination candidates is designed to highlight the skills necessary for the highest grades.

The following activities are taking place at present or have been offered through our extension programme:

• Programme of visiting speakers from Higher Education and Industry

• Work experience involving MFL knowledge or based in another country

• Joint activities with able pupils from other schools

• Transition programme with Petroc MFL Department

Extension materials for KS3 and KS4

The following extension materials are available within the department:

• Reading material including graded Mary Glasgow magazines, for interest and pleasure

• Self study grammar packs and study guides (including IT based)

• Foreign Language DVDs (with subtitles)

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