At St Edward’s, our languages curriculum will equip our students with the skills to live and work in the global community. They will also develop a greater understanding of the language and culture of our nearest neighbours.

Curriculum Intent

In languages, our role is to open doors to our students that will otherwise be closed, and to open their eyes to the reality of a world and jobs market that is international, and in which young people from other countries speak multiple languages. We seek to develop in our young people a curiosity about the world outside Dorset and to inspire in them a sense of the opportunities available to linguists. Through excellent teaching we will enable our students to express themselves, in writing and in speech, in the languages identified as most in demand by employers, and introduce them to the culture and way of life in our nearest neighbours, both in the classroom and in the friendships our students can develop by participating in exchange programmes.

Our students will thus become global citizens, acquiring the skills, inquisitive mindset, intellectual curiosity and understanding that will enable them to work internationally.

Course Contact

Mrs Berengere Pawley
MFL Subject Leader

Key Stage Three

Students at Key Stage 3 will study French or German. Throughout Key Stage 3 we teach the vocabulary and grammar structures needed for further study to GCSE. Lessons are designed to be fast-paced and fun, with a focus on writing and speaking in the language as well as listening and reading comprehension. We also aim to immerse the students in aspects of the culture of the main countries whose language they are learning. Home learning that consolidates and builds on in-class learning is set each week and students are provided with additional online resources for them to further extend their learning. From Year 9 students are invited to participate in our annual exchange programmes with the Gymnasium am Kaiserdom in Speyer, Germany or the Collège La Bucaille in Cherbourg, France.

In Year 7 students spend half of the year learning each of French and German. Through the study of modules covering hobbies and school they are taught key vocabulary and grammar structures and given a thorough introduction to the language.

In Year 8 students study one language and work through a series of modules covering topics such as travel, food and media that also introduce them to more complex grammar structures such as the past and future tenses.

In Year 9 students work hard to prepare for GCSE study in Key Stage 4, working through modules on topics including technology, health, the world of work and describing where we live.

Key Stage Four

At Key Stage 4, the vast majority of our students study French or German. In our increasingly globalised society, studying a language at GCSE will increase the students' future employability and ensure that options are not closed to them.

But the fact that languages are important is far from the only reason to study them; GCSE courses in languages are also enjoyable, interesting, and challenging, and lay a firm foundation for those wishing to progress to fluency at A Level. As well as opening doors, languages also open our eyes and minds to other cultures, giving students an enhanced understanding of the world. As the famous Czech proverb states: “He who learns a new language acquires a new soul”.

The new GCSE specifications which are launching this year are designed to develop students’ cultural understanding, as well as their language skills, and compared to previous specifications have a more-focused vocabulary list that tests the most commonly used words in the language. Assessment at the end of Year 11 is through 4 exams in listening, reading, writing, and speaking.

Topics studied include: Identity and relationships, education and work, customs and festivals in French and German-speaking countries, celebrity culture, media, the environment and travel and tourism.

As well as the learning that takes place in the classroom, we are one of very few schools in the region to offer students the opportunity to take part in full foreign exchange visits to France or Germany. Far more than a normal school trip abroad, our exchanges provide an opportunity for students to make new friends, use their language skills in context, and to experience life in France or Germany for themselves.

Method of Assessment

Exam Board: AQA

Unit Assessment: All assessment is by final external exam with an even 25% split between 4 assessed skills: Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing

Key Stage Five

A Level French or German

As the world becomes increasingly globalised and with the vast majority of Britain’s trade focused on our European neighbours, an ability to speak foreign languages is a skill that is increasingly prized by employers and surveys point to the strong employment prospects and increased earnings enjoyed by graduates and school leavers with foreign language skills. However that is not the only reason why studying languages at A level is an enjoyable and worthwhile experience – many students choose languages simply due to a desire to speak and write fluently in a foreign language, because they want to travel or work abroad or due to the sheer enjoyment of learning a language.

Learn more

Future Pathways

One of the great things about learning a language is that it is so much more than a subject - you will be acquiring a skill which, with practice, you can retain for the rest of your life. After Year 11 you will have the opportunity to continue studying your chosen language to A level. This enables you to achieve a high level of fluency in the language and, with languages so highly regarded by top universities, can be a ticket for entry to a range of courses. Languages give students a clear edge in their future lives and careers.

Student Destinations

University of Bath - International Management and Modern Languages

University College London - Russian and French

University of Oxford - Law with French Law

University of Southampton - German and Spanish Linguistics

University of Sussex - International Relations

University of Warwick - German and Business

Student Testimonials

“What I enjoy most about learning a language is being able to learn about and appreciate other peoples’ culture and language”

Rosie, KS3 MFL student

“What I enjoy most about learning a language is that the teachers are helpful and encouraging and the lessons are fun and engaging”

Thomas, KS4 MFL student

“Learning another language opens so many doors, and the ability to access other cultures is unmatched by any other subject. The smaller A Level classes give a great opportunity for more personalised teaching”

Brandon, KS5 MFL student

Modern Foreign Languages