Spanish
Subject Overview
The National Curriculum states that learning a foreign language is a liberation from insularity and provides an opening to other cultures. As MFL teachers we aim to provide an education that fosters students’ curiosity and deepens their understanding of the world.
In both Key Stages, we focus on the four key skill areas in MFL: Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. We use a variety of techniques and strategies in our lessons, from interactive role plays to games and songs. We are also fortunate to be able to book out an ICT suite to consolidate and stretch learning. The department encourages each student to reach and even exceed their targets, by providing them with the necessary tools to become more independent learners.
Wellfield Academy Languages - Curriculum Intent
At Wellfield Academy, we believe that learning another language provides a valuable social, cultural and educational experience for all students. Students explore a variety of engaging themes whilst developing competencies in the modalities of listening, reading, speaking, writing and translation. Students are encouraged to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond to speakers, both through speech and writing.
Rationale
Our curriculum is structured around the three pillars of grammar, vocabulary, and phonics. These elements are interwoven throughout a comprehensive five-year journey, allowing students to build a deep understanding of the Spanish language. The curriculum is designed to teach acceptance and engagement with the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. It also reflects the Wellfield values of being inclusive, aspirational and community-centred.
Grammar: We will expose students to a wide range of grammatical concepts, progressively increasing in complexity. This structured approach ensures that students not only grasp the mechanics of the language but also develop the ability to express themselves accurately and creatively.
Vocabulary: Our curriculum emphasizes the acquisition of a rich and varied vocabulary. By integrating thematic units that reflect cultural experiences and traditions, students will learn language in context, enhancing retention and relevance.
Phonics: A strong focus on phonics will aid students in developing their pronunciation and listening skills. This foundational aspect will support their overall fluency and confidence in both spoken and written communication.
Implementation
Throughout the five-year curriculum journey, we will provide students with diverse cultural experiences that deepen their understanding of the Spanish-speaking world. This holistic approach not only prepares them for the rigours of language learning but also fosters a lifelong appreciation for languages and cultures.
In KS3 pupils will experience four lessons of Spanish per fortnight. Pupils will also be exposed to Spanish language and culture throughout the curriculum. In KS4 Students will experience 6 hours per fortnight.
At KS4 we work towards the Edexcel Spanish GCSE course and build on our strong KS3 curriculum by exploring the 6 thematic concepts of:
My personal world
Lifestyle and wellbeing
My neighbourhood
Media and technology
Studying and my future
Travel and tourism
We also continue to develop students’ abilities in the four modalities of reading, writing, listening and speaking and prepare students effectively for their GCSE final exams.
From a personal development perspective, the Languages department leads on whole school projects such as European Day of Languages and the exploration of different cultural practices in the Spanish speaking world. We also consider how learning Spanish can widen opportunities for our students in their future work and employment.
To be able to expand our linguistic offer further, we are in the process of redesigning our extra-curricular offer to hopefully include Italian club and Portuguese club over the next year.
We believe our curriculum enables students to develop as effective linguists, capable of navigating complex linguistic landscapes and with the ability to embrace the opportunities that bilingualism offers.
Spanish Staff
| Miss Stevenson | Subject Leader of Spanish |
| Miss Tomlinson | Teacher of Spanish |
Key Stage 3 Spanish
At Key Stage Three we teach four modules per year that each incorporates a range of the four skills in MFL (listening, speaking, reading and writing) with a cultural end of year project. We regularly track progress through a variety of assessment activities. By doing this, we are able to identify areas in which students are strong as well as areas in which students might need to develop.
Key Stage 4 Spanish
At Key Stage Four we follow the Edexcel GCSE syllabi. Students consolidate and enhance their knowledge of fundamental grammar points and structures, as well as covering topics from the GCSE specification.
The GCSE is a linear examination and all four skills are examined separately. The examinations take place at the end of Year 11 with equal weightings of 25% in all four areas of Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing Spanish.
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart”
Nelson Mandela
