Students in KS3 have two or three lessons of French a week, and, if they are learning Spanish, one lesson a week in Years 7 & 8. Classes are arranged according to ability. Setting is reviewed on a half-termly basis to ensure that each student is in the correct teaching group, and any recommended changes are based on class and homework assessment information, Quality Mark results and the teacher’s professional judgement. At the end of each academic year a further review is undertaken, which takes into account the year’s exam results and performance in each of the Attainment Targets. Individual results and targets are recorded in each student’s planner.
Every student has the opportunity to use the Faculty’s ICT resources at least once a fortnight. Homework is set every week for each language.
Schemes of Work are regularly reviewed and updated, and contain references to the College’s literacy and numeracy policies, Business and Enterprise links and opportunities for social, moral, spiritual and cultural education. We use Metro text books 1, 2 and 3 for French, Logo! 1, 2 and 3 in German and Listos in Spanish. There is a substantial bank of teaching resources available on the school network, and we have a considerable amount of languages software for pupils to work with in class (Unterwegs / En Route), as well as material which supplements the Metro, Listos and Logo text books.
The 2004 Ofsted report comments: Standards in work in Year 9 are above average in both languages. [Students] are at ease using the faculty’s two computerised language laboratories, where they can access many of the learning materials. This learning environment contributes very well to the climate for learning and is one major reason why boys achieve better than in other schools. Achievement overall is good in both languages, because high standards are reached in less time than is usually allocated to language learning.