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KS4: GCSE French (EBacc)

Intent

The intent of the department curriculum is to ensure that all pupils are able to retain vital knowledge and master essential skills. Students are taught to build and develop their French language skills, equipping them with the knowledge to communicate in a variety of contexts. We encourage our students to not only develop their linguistic knowledge, but also skills such as problem solving, memorisation techniques, empathy, lateral thinking, risk taking and creativity. The study of languages should also broaden their horizons and encourage them to step beyond familiar cultural boundaries and develop new ways of seeing the world.

This course should enable students to:

  • develop their ability to communicate confidently and coherently with native speakers in speech and writing, conveying what they want to say with increasing accuracy
  • express and develop thoughts and ideas spontaneously and fluently
  • listen to and understand clearly articulated, standard speech at near normal speed
  • deepen their knowledge about how language works and enrich their vocabulary to increase their independent use and understanding of extended language in a range of contexts
  • acquire new knowledge, skills and ways of thinking through the ability to understand and respond to authentic spoken and written material, adapted and abridged, as appropriate, including literary texts
  • develop awareness and understanding of the culture and identity of the countries and communities where French is spoken
  • make appropriate links to other areas of the curriculum to enable bilingual and deeper learning, where the language may become a medium for constructing and applying knowledge
  • develop language learning skills both for immediate use and prepare them for further language study in school, higher education or employment
  • develop language strategies, including repair strategies

Schedule of Learning

  • Module 1: Free-time activities
  • Module 2: Identity and relationships with others
  • Module 3: Healthy living and lifestyles
  • Module 4: Education
  • Module 5: Travel and tourism, including places of interest
  • Module 6: Customs, festivals and celebrations

Schedule of Learning

  • Module 1: Education and school life
  • Module 2: Future plans
  • Module 3: Jobs and employment
  • Module 4: Global issues
  • Module 5: Social issues

Implementation

  • demonstrate general and specific understanding of different types of spoken language
  • follow and understand clear standard speech using familiar language across a range of specified contexts
  • identify the overall message, key points, details and opinions in a variety of short and longer spoken passages, involving some more complex language, recognising the relationship between past, present and future events
  • deduce meaning from a variety of short and longer spoken texts, involving some complex language and more abstract material, including short narratives and authentic material addressing a wide range of contemporary and cultural themes
  • recognise and respond to key information, important themes and ideas in more extended spoken text, including authentic sources, adapted and abridged, as appropriate, by being able to answer questions, extract information, evaluate and draw conclusions.
  • communicate and interact effectively in speech for a variety of purposes across a range of specified contexts
  • take part in a short conversation, asking and answering questions, and exchanging opinions
  • convey information and narrate events coherently and confidently, using and adapting language for new purposes
  • speak spontaneously, responding to unexpected questions, points of view or situations, sustaining communication by using rephrasing or repair strategies, as appropriate
  • initiate and develop conversations and discussion, producing extended sequences of speech
  • make appropriate and accurate use of a variety of vocabulary and grammatical structures, including some more complex forms, with reference to past, present and future events
  • make creative and more complex use of the language, as appropriate, to express and justify their own thoughts and points of view
  • use accurate pronunciation and intonation to be understood by a native speaker.
  • understand and respond to different types of written language
  • understand general and specific details within texts using high frequency familiar language across a range of contexts
  • identify the overall message, key points, details and opinions in a variety of short and longer written passages, involving some more complex language, recognising the relationship between past, present and future events
  • deduce meaning from a variety of short and longer written texts from a range of specified contexts, including authentic sources involving some complex language and unfamiliar material, as well as short narratives and authentic material addressing a wide range of relevant contemporary and cultural themes
  • recognise and respond to key information, important themes and ideas in more extended written text and authentic sources, including some extracts from relevant abridged or adapted literary texts
  • demonstrate understanding by being able to scan for particular information, organise and present relevant details, draw inferences in context and recognise implicit meaning where appropriate
  • translate a short passage from French into English.
  • communicate effectively in writing for a variety of purposes across a range of specified contexts
  • write short texts, using simple sentences and familiar language accurately to convey meaning and exchange information
  • produce clear and coherent text of extended length to present facts and express ideas and opinions appropriately for different purposes and in different settings
  • make accurate use of a variety of vocabulary and grammatical structures, including some more complex forms, to describe and narrate with reference to past, present and future events
  • manipulate the language, using and adapting a variety of structures and vocabulary with increasing accuracy and fluency for new purposes, including using appropriate style and register
  • make independent, creative and more complex use of the language, as appropriate, to note down key points, express and justify individual thoughts and points of view, in order to interest, inform or convince
  • translate sentences and short texts from English into French to convey key messages accurately and to apply grammatical knowledge of language and structures in context.

Impact

Students will be supported with a number of different types of assessment materials to ensure they reach their full potential in their French GCSE examination.

Assessment

Students will complete a full French mock in November/December and a second one in February/March. We use the following Assessment Objectives:

  • AO1: Listening – understand and respond to different types of spoken language (25%). This requires students to listen to recordings in French and to answer questions on what they hear. Some of these questions will be multiple-choice and some will need the student to write short answers in English and French.
  • AO2: Speaking – communicate and interact effectively in speech (25%). In this part of the exam students will do a short role play with the examiner and talk about a photo. They will also talk about two of the topics they have studied.
  • AO3: Reading – understand and respond to different types of written language (25%).The reading section will give the students passages to read and questions to answer. Some of these questions will be multiple-choice and some will need the students to write short answers in English and French. Passages will be from French sources such as emails, magazines and books. Students will also need to translate sentences or a short passage from French into English.
  • AO4: Writing – communicate in writing (25%). In the foundation paper students will write about a photo, write a short passage and write a longer passage. In the higher paper students will write longer passages about two topics. At both levels there is also a translation exercise, from English into French.

Students do either all Foundation tier or all Higher tier papers.

For more information, please read our assessment recording and reporting cycle.

Exam Board Information

AQA GCSE (9-1) French Specification

AQA GCSE (9-1) French Specification (teaching from September 2024)

Additional Resources

KS4: GCSE Spanish (EBacc)

Intent

The intent of the department curriculum is to ensure that all pupils are able to retain vital knowledge and master essential skills. Students are taught to build and develop their Spanish language skills, equipping them with the knowledge to communicate in a variety of contexts. We encourage our students to not only develop their linguistic knowledge, but also skills such as problem solving, memorisation techniques, empathy, lateral thinking, risk taking and creativity. The study of languages should also broaden their horizons and encourage them to step beyond familiar cultural boundaries and develop new ways of seeing the world.

This course should enable students to:

  • develop their ability to communicate confidently and coherently with native speakers in speech and writing, conveying what they want to say with increasing accuracy
  • express and develop thoughts and ideas spontaneously and fluently
  • listen to and understand clearly articulated, standard speech at near normal speed
  • deepen their knowledge about how language works and enrich their vocabulary to increase their independent use and understanding of extended language in a range of contexts
  • acquire new knowledge, skills and ways of thinking through the ability to understand and respond to authentic spoken and written material, adapted and abridged, as appropriate, including literary texts
  • develop awareness and understanding of the culture and identity of the countries and communities where Spanish is spoken
  • make appropriate links to other areas of the curriculum to enable bilingual and deeper learning, where the language may become a medium for constructing and applying knowledge
  • develop language learning skills both for immediate use and prepare them for further language study in school, higher education or employment
  • develop language strategies, including repair strategies

Schedule of Learning

  • Module 1: Free-time activities
  • Module 2: Identity and relationships with others
  • Module 3: Healthy living and lifestyles
  • Module 4: Education
  • Module 5: Travel and tourism, including places of interest
  • Module 6: Customs, festivals and celebrations

Schedule of Learning

  • Module 1: Local area
  • Module 2: Food and Festivals
  • Module 3: Social and global issues
  • Module 4: Future study and employment
  • Module 5: Revision

Implementation

  • demonstrate general and specific understanding of different types of spoken language
  • follow and understand clear standard speech using familiar language across a range of specified contexts
  • identify the overall message, key points, details and opinions in a variety of short and longer spoken passages, involving some more complex language, recognising the relationship between past, present and future events
  • deduce meaning from a variety of short and longer spoken texts, involving some complex language and more abstract material, including short narratives and authentic material addressing a wide range of contemporary and cultural themes
  • recognise and respond to key information, important themes and ideas in more extended spoken text, including authentic sources, adapted and abridged, as appropriate, by being able to answer questions, extract information, evaluate and draw conclusions.
  • communicate and interact effectively in speech for a variety of purposes across a range of specified contexts
  • take part in a short conversation, asking and answering questions, and exchanging opinions
  • convey information and narrate events coherently and confidently, using and adapting language for new purposes
  • speak spontaneously, responding to unexpected questions, points of view or situations, sustaining communication by using rephrasing or repair strategies, as appropriate
  • initiate and develop conversations and discussion, producing extended sequences of speech
  • make appropriate and accurate use of a variety of vocabulary and grammatical structures, including some more complex forms, with reference to past, present and future events
  • make creative and more complex use of the language, as appropriate, to express and justify their own thoughts and points of view
  • use accurate pronunciation and intonation to be understood by a native speaker.
  • understand and respond to different types of written language
  • understand general and specific details within texts using high frequency familiar language across a range of contexts
  • identify the overall message, key points, details and opinions in a variety of short and longer written passages, involving some more complex language, recognising the relationship between past, present and future events
  • deduce meaning from a variety of short and longer written texts from a range of specified contexts, including authentic sources involving some complex language and unfamiliar material, as well as short narratives and authentic material addressing a wide range of relevant contemporary and cultural themes
  • recognise and respond to key information, important themes and ideas in more extended written text and authentic sources, including some extracts from relevant abridged or adapted literary texts
  • demonstrate understanding by being able to scan for particular information, organise and present relevant details, draw inferences in context and recognise implicit meaning where appropriate
  • translate a short passage from French into English.
  • communicate effectively in writing for a variety of purposes across a range of specified contexts
  • write short texts, using simple sentences and familiar language accurately to convey meaning and exchange information
  • produce clear and coherent text of extended length to present facts and express ideas and opinions appropriately for different purposes and in different settings
  • make accurate use of a variety of vocabulary and grammatical structures, including some more complex forms, to describe and narrate with reference to past, present and future events
  • manipulate the language, using and adapting a variety of structures and vocabulary with increasing accuracy and fluency for new purposes, including using appropriate style and register
  • make independent, creative and more complex use of the language, as appropriate, to note down key points, express and justify individual thoughts and points of view, in order to interest, inform or convince
  • translate sentences and short texts from English into French to convey key messages accurately and to apply grammatical knowledge of language and structures in context.

Impact

Students will be supported with a number of different types of assessment materials to ensure they reach their full potential in their Spanish GCSE examination.

Assessment

Students will complete a full Foundation Spanish mock at the end of year 10. We use the following Assessment Objectives:

  • AO1: Listening – understand and respond to different types of spoken language (25%). This requires students to listen to recordings in Spanish and to answer questions on what they hear. Some of these questions will be multiple-choice and some will need the student to write short answers in English and Spanish.
  • AO2: Speaking – communicate and interact effectively in speech (25%). In this part of the exam students will do a short role play with the examiner and talk about a photo. They will also talk about two of the topics they have studied.
  • AO3: Reading – understand and respond to different types of written language (25%).The reading section will give the students passages to read and questions to answer. Some of these questions will be multiple-choice and some will need the students to write short answers in English and Spanish. Passages will be from Spanish sources such as emails, magazines and books. Students will also need to translate sentences or a short passage from Spanish into English.
  • AO4: Writing – communicate in writing (25%). In the foundation paper students will write about a photo, write a short passage and write a longer passage on one of a choice of two topics. In the higher paper students will write longer passages about two topics from a choice of four. At both levels there is also a translation exercise, from English into Spanish.

For more information, please read our assessment recording and reporting cycle.

Exam Board Information

AQA GCSE (9-1) Spanish Specification

AQA GCSE (9-1) Spanish Specification (teaching from September 2024)

Additional Resources