At HLC, every KS3 student studies and enjoys learning a language, with all students feeling successful in their French or Spanish lessons.

The MFL curriculum is both ambitious and aligned with the National Curriculum, as well as the AQA exam specification (for current Year 11) and the Edexcel specification (for the new GCSE from June 2025).

At KS3, our curriculum encourages students to “feel the world in someone else’s shoes,” while establishing strong foundations in the three pillars of progression: Grammar, Vocabulary, and Phonics.

Our goal is to empower students to communicate confidently in French and Spanish, enabling them to understand and respond to native speakers expressing ideas relevant to their daily needs.

We aim to equip students for continued language study post-16 and prepare them for a future where they can work globally and interact with people from diverse backgrounds. Developing enthusiastic, resilient learners with a lasting legacy is central to our mission.

Over the course of five years, we focus on strengthening competencies in listening, reading, speaking, and writing, gradually building students’ independence and self-confidence.

We are committed to exposing students to different cultures, fostering their curiosity, and deepening their global awareness. Our curriculum challenges insular thinking and highlights the value and importance of learning a language.

We also aim to cultivate respect for others, both within our local communities and globally, enriching students’ cultural capital and broadening their horizons through diverse class activities, cultural events, and trips.

Through these trips, we provide students with practical opportunities to communicate in real-world settings, further enhancing their language skills.

Collaborative curriculum planning is central to our department’s approach. Throughout their studies, students are equipped with the skills and knowledge to become confident, independent speakers of French or Spanish, mastering phonics, vocabulary, and grammar. Learning is organized in a spiral approach, ensuring continuous progression and reinforcement of key concepts.

As students advance, they regularly revisit and practice the language they have learned, allowing them to build fluency and become effective communicators. Our curriculum is designed to help students develop their language skills incrementally, ensuring that they grow into confident and capable speakers.

With students joining us from approximately 40 different primary schools, our primary goals are to build confidence in spoken language, introduce the foundations of grammatical understanding, and foster engagement and motivation in language.

learning. From Year 7 onwards, we teach students the essential skills needed for their future GCSE and A Level studies.

All lessons are planned with the highest standards in mind, and we adapt our teaching to meet the needs, abilities, and interests of each individual student. We monitor progress through regular assessments and continuous feedback. Teachers use a variety of methods to check understanding, such as Show Me boards, cold calling, Think-Pair-Share, and targeted questioning, ensuring that all students are actively engaged in their learning.

In MFL, feedback and marking are designed to support student progress and to achieve the following objectives:

• Recognise and celebrate students’ efforts and achievements in ways that are clear and motivating.
• Diagnose challenges, identify areas for development, and guide students towards improvement.
• Set clear, manageable, and developmental learning targets.
• Provide specific strategies for progress and improvement.
• Motivate students and cultivate a culture of achievement.

Through a broad range of engaging activities, students are taught to:

• Identify and use tenses and other grammatical structures to express themselves in the present, past, and future.
• Manipulate key grammatical structures and patterns to build accuracy and fluency.
• Develop a rich vocabulary that allows them to give and justify opinions and engage in discussions on topics beyond their immediate needs and interests.
• Use accurate grammar, spelling, and punctuation in both written and spoken language.

Students also learn to:

• Listen and respond to a variety of spoken language.
• Transcribe words and sentences they hear, reinforcing their listening and writing skills.
• Read original and adapted texts, understanding their purpose and context.
• Explore literary texts that deepen their understanding of both the language and culture.
• Write creatively and translate texts accurately from and into the target language, further developing their linguistic competence.

Our curriculum fosters a comprehensive and well-rounded language education, preparing students not only for exams but for a lifetime of linguistic and cultural exploration.

We know our curriculum in the MFL department is effective because of the high levels of student engagement observed throughout the school, as well as the feedback gathered through student voice surveys. The quality of teaching and learning in MFL has been consistently praised during learning walks, with both internal and external observers highlighting its strength.

Student progress is closely monitored through regular assessments, which demonstrate steady improvement. Teachers routinely check for understanding in class using a variety of techniques, including Show Me boards, cold calling, Think-Pair-Share, and targeted questioning.

Our 24 dedicated Language Ambassadors are eager to support younger students, both within MFL lessons and through after-school tutoring for individuals and small groups. Additionally, former GCSE students who pursued a language at KS5 are always enthusiastic about completing their work experience in the MFL department, sharing their experiences and insights with current students.

Over the past three years, French results have shown significant improvement, while Spanish results have remained consistently strong. In the most recent GCSE examinations, MFL results ranked among the highest in the school.

Homework is set on a fortnightly basis, with students expected to spend between 20 and 30 minutes on each task.

The core homework task focuses on vocabulary acquisition, reinforcing key words and structures introduced in lessons. For these tasks, students should bring their revision notes to school, demonstrating the method they have used to study, such as flashcards, mind maps, word clouds, etc.

Optional enrichment tasks are also available for students who wish to extend their learning beyond the core homework.

We strive to foster a deep respect for others, both within our local communities and globally, while expanding our students’ cultural capital and broadening their perspectives. Through a diverse range of class activities and whole-school cultural events, we aim to enrich their understanding of the world.

Our trips also offer valuable opportunities for students to engage in practical communication, helping them apply their language skills in real-life contexts.

Our enrichment opportunities include:

• Fortnightly After-School Club: A variety of activities such as watching French/Spanish films, cooking traditional dishes, and celebrating cultural festivals.
• Half-Termly Whole-School MFL Competitions: Fun events like “Design a Flag from Recycled Materials” or the “MFL Bake Off.”
• Community Languages Competitions: Creative challenges like designing a tree or compiling a cookbook.]
• Language Ambassador Activities: Student-led initiatives to engage peers and promote language learning.
• Tapas Restaurant Visit: An immersive experience exploring Spanish cuisine and culture.
• Spanish Dance Demonstration: A Flamenco dance workshop that allows students to explore Spanish traditions through movement.
• KS3 Visit to the Opal Coast, France: A cultural trip to enhance language learning and cultural appreciation.These activities aim to inspire a love for languages, promote cultural awareness, and provide students with opportunities to actively engage with the language beyond the classroom.

On 22nd November, all Year 9 students attended an inspiring MFL career talk, highlighting the crucial role that language skills play in a wide range of careers, particularly in the initial stages of job interviews.

A language GCSE opens numerous opportunities. For students who have achieved the English Baccalaureate (Ebacc), it provides a solid foundation for further education, with options for continuing language study through A Levels, Diplomas, or Certificates.

After the age of 18, many UK universities offer modern foreign language degrees, or courses that incorporate language modules. MFL degrees often include the option of a year abroad, known as a “sandwich course,” where students can enhance their language proficiency and gain specific skills related to their future career interests.

Studying abroad is also an option, allowing students to immerse themselves in a foreign culture and language—an experience proven to be one of the most effective ways to achieve fluency.

Skills for Your CV

In an increasingly global job market, the skills developed through learning a foreign language are highly valued by employers. These include:

• Effective Communication (speaking and writing)
• Information Gathering, Assessment, and Interpretation
• Leading and Participating in Discussions and Group Work
• Developing Opinions and Proposing Ideas
• Cultural Awareness
• Adaptability to New and Changing Environments
• Ability to Work Both Independently and in a Team

Career Opportunities

For graduates with a degree in Modern Foreign Languages, the world is full of possibilities. Whether at home or abroad, the career options are vast, including roles such as:

• Interpreter
• Translator
• Sales and Marketing Executive
• Detective
• Tour Manager
• Patent Examiner
• Logistics and Distribution Manager
• Diplomatic Service Officer
• Public Services
• Publishing Rights Manager
• Footballer
• Personal Trainer
• Makeup Artist
• Architect

The skills gained from studying languages not only open doors to a wide range of professions but also provide graduates with the flexibility and global reach to shape their career path in numerous exciting directions.