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French

On entering the school all pupils study French in Years 7 and 8. In their first year girls are taught in tutor groups whilst in Year 8, girls are setted according to examination 7 assessment results and their overall performance in class.

In Year 9 girls continue their French studies together with embarking on the study of a second Modern Language 9 German or Spanish.

At the end of Year 9, girls opt either to take one or two Modern Foreign Languages to carry on to GCSE.

Currently in Year 10 there are four groups of French, two of Spanish and one German group. Our numbers of girls taking two languages are healthy (45 in Years 10 and 11).

In Year 11, girls also have the privilege of an extra conversation class with a native French speaker in order to improve and develop their oral skills.

Girls are entered for the AQA French GCSE at the end of Year 11. Recently the department opted to follow the coursework option in preference to the terminal written paper.

Results are traditionally excellent at GCSE

Numbers studying AS/A2 are healthy and once again girls have a dedicated conversation lesson per week with one of our native speakers as an integral part of their advanced studies - results at this level have also been consistently high.

Excellent Resources

We are a well resourced department, having the benefit of satellite TV and individual listening facilities for our students. Our aim is to make language learning fun as well as meeting the educational aims of the schemes of work.

We include songs and plays in our schemes and at all levels make use of the video camera to film playlets in class. In the past we have organised joint "European" events in order to promote MFL languages in the school. We are currently building on our ICT resources but at present girls are encouraged to extend their research by accessing the Internet - particularly at Advanced level. We have a well-stocked library and the school subscribes to French newspapers and magazines in order that girls may enhance their vocabulary and knowledge of French culture.

Throughout KS 3 and 4 we have well-established reading schemes.

We encourage girls, particularly at Advanced Level to participate in individual home-stay visits.
We regularly attend plays and language days organised by local universities. Each year we welcome " The European Theatre Company" to the school to perform for both our junior and senior girls. These plays are always a huge success.