Languages beyond the Curriculum
Students at New Hall have many opportunities to practise their languages outside the classroom. Recent trips include Normandy, Paris, Madrid and Andalucía. We have also set up a French exchange for Years 9-10 to Dijon and offer work experience abroad for our 6th form students. Theatre and cinema trips to London are organised for Sixth Form students, and visiting theatre companies come in to perform plays in French and Spanish to enhance the GCSE curriculum.

Curriculum – Key Stage 3
Prior to entry into the Senior School, students are asked to choose between French and Spanish, and all students concentrate on this one Modern Language in addition to Latin. During the first term, students are set by ability and setting is reviewed regularly. Talented students of French are later offered the opportunity to study Spanish in addition to French. The textbooks used at KS3 are ‘Mira’ for Spanish and ‘Tricolore for French. Teachers use ‘ActiveTeach’ software for these courses, and also supplement the courses with ‘Linguascope’, ‘Activiscope’, and a wide range of online resources and mobile applications.

Curriculum – Key Stage 4
The vast majority of those studying French or Spanish at Key Stage 3 continue to GCSE. At New Hall we are fortunate to have parents and students who value languages, meaning that the motivation to learn is already there. Each year a small, but strong and enthusiastic group of linguists opts to study both languages to GCSE level. In 2017, results for both French and Spanish Edexcel IGCSE were 38% A*-A. The resources used for KS4 French and Spanish are ’Tricolore’ and ‘Mira’ or ‘Viva’ with ‘ActiveTeach’ software.

Curriculum – Key Stage 5
At New Hall we use the Edexcel Specification at A Level. Many resources are used to supplement teaching, for example, online periodicals, media sites and a wide range of internet resources and mobile applications. Students have compulsory weekly sessions with the Spanish or French Assistant. AS and A2 results have been very pleasing, and we are proud to have sent 5 students off to read Modern Languages at university this year.

Head of French: Mr D. Boudon [email protected]

Head of Spanish: Mrs C. Wilson [email protected]

Twitter: @newhallmodlang