Quotes
“Without language, one cannot talk to people and understand them; one cannot share their hopes and aspirations, grasp their history, appreciate their poetry or savour their songs” – Nelson Mandela
Purpose
The foreign language curriculum at Rushey Mead Academy supports all students in developing a wide variety of transferable skills that will serve them in their academic studies and beyond. The purpose of the curriculum is to create confident communicators. Therefore, the MFL curriculum aims to develop a range of essential communication skills, both verbal and written, in every lesson. As a ‘languages for all’ school, our curriculum is tailored to meet the needs of students across the ability range, giving all students a sense of achievement in languages. The language curriculum also fosters an understanding and tolerance of other cultures. It allows students the opportunity to view their world from a different perspective and learn new ways of thinking through regular exposure to the customs, arts and literature of the target language countries in lessons.
For more information, see here.
Key Stage 3 features and summary
French
Students study French for 3 lessons a week. They are initially taught in mixed ability groups and are then set by ability at the end of the first term in Year 7.
Throughout Key Stage 3 students are taught core ‘chunks of language’ that are recycled across different topics to allow students to regularly revisit prior knowledge and develop mastery.
Units are taught in topics as follows:
Year 7
Unit 1 – Self, Family & Relationships
Unit 2 – In the French Classroom
Unit 3 – Leisure
Year 8
Unit 4 – School, Studies & Future Plans
Unit 5 – Town & Local area
Unit 6 – Healthy & Unhealthy Lifestyle Choices
Year 9
Unit 7 – Free Time, Celebrations + Holidays – Reading + Listening
Unit 8 – Free Time, Celebrations + Holidays – Speaking + Writing.
Unit 9 – Preparing for GCSE
Gujarati
Gujarati is taught in a mixed ability group in KS3 three lessons per week. Students follow a similar syllabus to those studying French therefore topics listed for French are the same for Gujarati.
KS3 curriculum map & knowledge organisers
Year 7
| Unit 1 | Reading & Listening (Foundation) | Speaking & Writing (Foundation) |
| Reading & Listening (Higher) | Speaking & Writing (Higher) | |
| Unit 2 | Reading & Listening (Foundation) | Speaking & Writing (Foundation) |
| Reading & Listening (Higher) | Speaking & Writing (Higher) | |
| Unit 3 | Reading & Listening (Foundation) | Speaking & Writing (Foundation) |
| Reading & Listening (Higher) | Speaking & Writing (Higher) |
Year 8
| Unit 4 | Reading & Listening (Foundation) | Speaking & Writing (Foundation) |
| Reading & Listening (Higher) | Speaking & Writing(Higher) | |
| Unit 5 | Reading & Listening (Foundation) | Speaking & Writing (Foundation) |
| Reading & Listening (Higher) | Speaking & Writing (Higher) | |
| Unit 6 | Reading & Listening (Foundation) | Speaking & Writing (Foundation) |
| Reading & Listening (Higher) | Speaking & Writing (Higher) |
Year 9
| Unit 7 | Reading & Listening (Foundation) | Speaking & Writing (Foundation) |
| Reading & Listening (Higher) | Speaking & Writing (Higher) | |
| Unit 8 | Reading & Listening (Foundation) | Speaking & Writing (Foundation) |
| Reading & Listening(Higher) | Speaking & Writing (Higher) | |
| Unit 9 | Reading & Listening (Foundation) | Speaking & Writing (Foundation) |
| Reading & Listening (Higher) | Speaking & Writing (Higher) |
Key Stage 4 features and summary
At KS4 students follow the AQA GCSE course over 3 lessons per week in both Year 10 and Year 11. Students are required to sit an exam in each of the four skill areas; writing, speaking, reading and listening. Each exam is worth 25% of the total grade.
The course involves study of numerous topics which are categorised into 3 themes:
Theme 1 – Identity & Culture
Theme 2 – Local, National, International and Global Areas of Interest
Theme 3 – Current and Future Study and Employment
Year 10
Term 1 – Family, Relationships + Town
Term 2 – Leisure + Technology
Term 3 – Diet + Healthy Lifestyles
Year 11
Term 1 – School, Work + Future Plans, Customs + Festivals
Term 2 – Holidays, Travel + Global Issues
Term 3 – Exam Preparation
Gujarati
Gujarati is taught in mixed ability groups throughout Key stage 3 and 4. Students follow a similar syllabus to those studying French and receive the same lesson allocation. At KS4 students follow the Edexcel GCSE course.
Spanish
Spanish is an option at Key Stage 4. Students are fast – tracked during the first half term and then follow the AQA GCSE course for two or three lessons per week in Year 10 and 11. Students follow the same syllabus as those studying French.
KS4 curriculum map & knowledge organisers
Year 10
Summer Homework (set at End of Year 9)
| Half Term 1 | Speaking & Writing (Foundation) | Speaking & Writing (Higher) |
| Reading & Listening (Foundation) | Reading & Listening (Higher) | |
| Half Term 2 | Speaking & Writing | |
| Reading & Listening (Foundation) | Reading & Listening (Higher) | |
| Half Term 3 | Speaking & Writing | |
| Reading & Listening (Foundation) | Reading & Listening (Higher) | |
| Half Term 4 | Speaking & Writing | |
| Reading & Listening (Foundation) | Reading & Listening (Higher) | |
| Half Term 5 | Speaking & Writing | |
| Reading & Listening(Foundation) | Reading & Listening (Higher) | |
| Half Term 6 | Speaking & Writing | |
| Reading & Listening (Foundation) | Reading & Listening (Higher) | |
Year 11
| Half Term 1 | Speaking & Writing | |
| Reading & Listening (Foundation) | Reading & Listening (Higher) | |
| Half Term 2 | Speaking & Writing | |
| Reading & Listening (Foundation) | Reading & Listening(Higher) | |
| Half Term 3 | Speaking & Writing | |
| Reading & Listening (Foundation) | Reading & Listening(Higher) | |
| Half Term 4 | Speaking & Writing | |
| Reading & Listening (Foundation) | Reading & Listening (Higher) | |
Each term, students follow a unit of learning which focuses on the development of either their spoken language (listening and speaking) or written language (reading and writing).
Throughout the unit, students are explicitly taught the strategies necessary to apply their knowledge accurately and succeed in the skills targeted during the term.
Click here to view the skills taught throughout Key Stage 3 and 4.
Whole class feedback is consistently used in lessons to support student’s ongoing development and application of the skills and the strategies they have acquired throughout the term.
Students receive whole class as well as individual feedback on their performance in any assessments they complete to highlight successes and areas for improvement. They are given time to reflect upon and respond to feedback during lesson time, allowing them the opportunity to ask questions if needed.
Students also receive individual feedback on their performance in their weekly vocabulary test. Common misconceptions are addressed as a whole class and students are given time to revisit and correct their own mistakes.
Key Stage 3 Assessment:
At the end of the unit, students complete at least two assessments; listening and speaking, or, reading and writing. All assessments at Key Stage 3 mirror the style of GCSE exams to prepare students as early as possible.
Students will be awarded a grade for their performance in each assessment. To view assessment criteria at Key Stage 3, click here for speaking and here for writing .
In the summer term, students will sit an end of year exam to assess their retention of knowledge and skills of previously studied topics. The end of year exams test reading, listening and translation skills.
Year 7 – End of year exam
Unit 1 – Self and Family
Unit 2 – Key Words, Classroom Language and verbs
Year 8 – End of year exam
Unit 3 – Sport & Leisure
Unit 4 – School, Future Plans & Jobs
Unit 5 – Town
Year 9 – End of year exam
Unit 6 – Food, Diet and Health
Unit 7 – Holidays & Past tense
Unit 8 – Past & Future Events
Guidance and resources to support students in preparing for the end of year exams will be set on Show my Homework prior to the exam period.
Key Stage 4 Assessment:
At GCSE, students are required to sit an exam in each of the four skill areas; writing, speaking, reading and listening. Each exam is worth 25% of the total grade.
To prepare for these exams, students complete the following practice assessments:
Year 10
Term 1 – Reading exam paper, Listening exam paper, Speaking assessment (Photo card)
Term 2 – Reading exam paper, Listening exam paper, Speaking assessment (Conversation)
Term 3 – Reading exam paper, Listening exam paper, Writing assessment (End of year exam)
Year 11
Term 1 – Mock exams; Reading exam, Listening exam and Writing exam.
Term 2 – Mock Speaking exam
Term 3 – Final exams
Students in Key Stage 4 continue to receive regular feedback in the same way as those at Key Stage 3.
The MFL faculty subscribe to a number of language learning websites which can be accessed by students for free to enhance and consolidate their learning.
www.quizlet.com
This website is an excellent resource to help students learn vocabulary. Search for the usernames below to find lots of useful flashcards to support students with their vocabulary learning.
www.kerboodle.com
This website is an excellent resource for students in Key Stage 4. It contains a digital version of the text book sometimes used in class. The digital text book features many useful GCSE style reading, listening and writing tasks for students to complete independently at home as preparation for their GCSE exams.
In Y10, all students will be given their own unique username and password to access the resources available on this website.
Institution code: ZHM4
www.linguascope.com
There are lots of fun and interactive games to help students revise topics studied in class or to learn some new words.
Username: rushey Password: rushey2019
www.atantot-extra.co.uk
There are lots of fun and interactive games to help students revise topics studied in class or to learn some new words.
Username: rushey Password: 5602
www.atantot.co.uk
There are lots of useful activities to help students develop their reading, listening and vocabulary learning skills.
Username: rushey Password: 5602
GCSE revision guides
Students can also buy GCSE revision guides at the kiosk at a reduced price of £3
- GCSE AQA French – CGP Exam Practice Workbook
- GCSE AQA French – CGP The Revision Guide
Furthermore, a bank of free resources, including worksheets, reading books and dictionaries, is available to all students in the languages break out area.
Further Reading KS3 MFL – Link
Further Reading KS4 MFL – Link
Co-curricular opportunities
The faculty are committed to activities outside the classroom; individual advice/tuition is available to students when required and there is an after school French study club on Tuesdays where students can seek additional support.
Students also have the opportunity to enter various competitions in KS3 to further extend their language learning. e.g. Vocab Express national competition, Education Perfect global language competition
The MFL faculty are committed to ensuring that students have the opportunity to experience French culture first hand through the provision of overseas trips. There are two trips offered to students in Year 9. They offer a home stay trip to Rouen which involves students staying with a host family to immerse them in the language and culture with visits to all the most famous sites in the region. Secondly, they offer a cross-curricular trip to Normandy which provides students with a cultural and historical experience of France.
Stretch and challenge opportunities
Students are regularly provided with opportunities to stretch and challenge themselves both in and outside of lessons.
- Students are taught increasingly complex language and grammatical concepts as they progress through the curriculum. They should apply this knowledge and include these complex structures in their work accurately to achieve the top grades.
- Teachers provide extension activities in lessons to continually push students on to the next stage in their learning journey.
- Students are encouraged to be more proactive and independent in their learning. Once a task set by the teacher has been completed, students should refer to a list of possible extension activities and select an appropriate activity to complete.
Click here to view list of extension activities.
- Students are provided with a list of opportunities to further develop their language skills and knowledge outside the classroom.
Click here to view list of ‘take it further’ activities - Students are encouraged to take additional worksheets from the free resources area in the languages break out area.
- Our library is stocked with a range of French books at varying levels to provide students with the opportunity to read more widely and deepen their vocabulary.
Click here to view list of French books available.
Homework
To ensure that students retain vocabulary learnt in class, students are set weekly vocabulary learning homework throughout Key Stage 3 and 4.
Each week, students will have at least 1 vocabulary test to prepare for.
They should spend a minimum of 30 minutes memorising vocabulary for each test and an additional 10 minutes reviewing vocabulary in previous tests to maximise long term retention.
Click on the links below for more information and guidance on how best to support your child with the vocabulary learning homework.
Revision advice
At GCSE, students are required to sit an exam in each of the four skill areas; writing, speaking, reading and listening. Each exam is worth 25% of the total grade.
Please click on the links below for further information and advice for each of the four exams.
Essential Guide to GCSE – Foundation
Essential Guide to GCSE – Higher
Students are provided with explicit guidance from their teacher on what and how to revise to support them in prioritising their revision and best prepare themselves for their final exams.
Please click on the links below to view guidance provided to students on revision.
GCSE Revision Checklists- Foundation
Reading & Listening 1 / Reading & Listening 2
GCSE Revision Checklists – Higher
Faculty Staff
Mrs T Sadiq (Curriculum Leader) – [email protected]
Miss L Blackburn (Curriculum Leader) – [email protected]
Miss L Clarke (Second in MFL) – [email protected]
Mrs H Mugglestone – [email protected]
Mrs J Bland – [email protected]
Mrs C Coggon – [email protected]
Ms F Debrieux – [email protected]
Mrs H Millington – [email protected]
Mrs A Brazil – [email protected]
Mrs K Patel – [email protected]
Mrs M Luz – [email protected]
Mrs I Lachter – [email protected]