Modern Foreign Languages

"No culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive." – Gandhi

Year	Language studied
7	Either French and German or French and Spanish	Pupils are assigned two languages when they arrive in Year 7. At the end of the year, they decide if they want to continue with both or just one.
8 & 9	French/Spanish/German	Pupils continue to study the language(s) they have chosen. At the end of Year 9 they choose their GCSE options including at least one language.
10 & 11	GCSE French/Spanish/German	Pupils study at least one language at GCSE. Please note that pupils may not start a language at GCSE that they have not studied in Years 7, 8 and 9.

The school offers French, Spanish and German at Key Stage 3, GCSE and A level. Many of our students who studied a language at A-level went on successfully studying it at university, or as part of their degree.

Outside of the classroom, the educational visit to Santander in Spain gives our Year 9 and 10 students the possibility to put into practice the language skills they have acquired in lessons, as well as a better understanding of the Spanish culture.

The Year 9 students who have decided to carry on studying French at GCSE also have the opportunity to go to Boulogne sur Mer in July, where they can sample some local food and practise speaking French in the many activities they undertake during their stay. There is also the opportunity for year 9 and 10 students to go to Cologne in December to visit the Christmas markets and have the experience of being in a German city, visiting the sights, enjoying the culture and trying out their language skills.

At Saint Philip Howard, we aim at making language learning fun, engaging and motivating for every pupil. We hope that every student develops an interest for languages and an openness to the culture of different countries.