Spanish

The MFL curriculum at The Oaks Academy encourages students to discover and develop an appreciation of another language whilst deepening the understanding of their own. Through learning a foreign language, we aim to develop cultural awareness and encourage an understanding and a greater tolerance of others in the wider world. Learning a foreign language is a liberation from insularity and provides an opening to other cultures. A high-quality languages education should foster pupils’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world. The teaching should enable pupils to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and in writing.

KS3

The KS3 curriculum provides a solid basis for transition to the skills required at GCSE level and beyond, whilst giving students the ability and confidence to manipulate and produce the target language. Students are encouraged to express themselves freely whilst giving and justifying points of view. Students are challenged to develop their resilience and work both independently and with others. Intent is for strong uptake at GCSE. At Key Stage 3 teaching builds on the foundations of language learning laid at key stage 2, whether pupils continue with the same language or take up a new one. Teaching should focus on developing the breadth of pupils’ competence in listening, speaking, reading and writing, based on a sound foundation of core grammar and vocabulary. It should enable pupils to understand and communicate personal and factual information that goes beyond their immediate needs and interests, developing and justifying points of view in speech and writing, with increased spontaneity, independence and accuracy. It should provide suitable preparation for further study. Pupils will be taught: Grammar and vocabulary:  identify and use tenses or other structures which convey the present, past, and future as appropriate to the language being studied; develop and use a wide-ranging and deepening vocabulary that goes beyond their immediate needs and interests, allowing them to give and justify opinions and take part in discussion about wider issues; use accurate grammar, spelling and punctuation Linguistic competence; listen to a variety of forms of spoken language to obtain information and respond appropriately; transcribe words and short sentences that they hear with increasing accuracy; initiate and develop conversations, coping with unfamiliar language and unexpected responses; speak coherently and confidently, with increasingly accurate pronunciation and intonation; read and show comprehension of original and adapted materials from a range of different sources; write using an increasingly wide range of grammar and vocabulary, write creatively to express their own ideas and opinions, and translate short written text accurately into the foreign language. Pupils will be assessed continuously with short vocab tests and using peer and self-assessment.   Also, there will be formal assessments and feedback to help pupils to progress.

KS4

AQA GCSE Spanish builds on the themes studied in Years 7, 8 and 9, but develops students’ variety and complexity of language so that they are able to express themselves on a variety of topics, including current social and global issues. Students will develop their spoken and written skills to a level where they would be able to deal with a range of real-life situations in the countries where Spanish is spoken. Students who choose Spanish will eventually complete a two-year course to gain a full GCSE. Pupils will be assessed continuously with short vocab tests and using peer and self-assessment.   Also, there will be formal assessments and feedback to help pupils to progress as well as a mock exam.  Data will be used to identify underperformance and pupils who need stretching to reach their target or aspirational goal.

1. Assessment is over four exams: Reading 25%, Writing 25%, Listening 25%, and Speaking 25%.