Modern Foreign Languages Overview
At Trentham academy we want to create competent and confident linguists with a deep awareness and curiosity about the wider world. The languages currently taught at Trentham Academy are French and Spanish. In year 7 and 8 Students are taught both languages and at the end of year 8 students can opt for one or both languages to continue to study for GCSE.
From Year 9 onwards the MFL curriculum is mapped to follow the EDEXCEL specification and students are continually exposed to GCSE materials and exam content in order to fully prepare them to achieve the necessary outcomes within lessons and formal assessments. Lessons are planned to cater for the key skills of speaking, listening and dictation, reading and translation into English and writing and translation into the target language.
Over the 5 years we consistently deliver the 3 pillars of language: phonics, vocabulary and grammar enabling students to communicate in the target language with increasing confidence, fluency, spontaneity, pronunciation and intonation.
The MFL department is committed to supporting the whole school literacy focus, ensuring that students are taught to use and understand grammatical terminology and are encouraged to proof read work in order to check and correct errors independently.
In the classroom students will show enthusiasm for the subject through their participation in fun activities. They will show confidence and respect when sharing ideas and communicating in the target language. They will work both independently and with others and take responsibility for their learning in the classroom and at home.
Students are given opportunities to take part in foreign language visits in order to give them a real life insight into the language they are studying.
MFL students will have successful futures with the ability to work in a global economy due to high standards of teaching and learning which encourage all students to dream big, work hard and persevere when facing challenges. Skills and careers in languages will be a regular feature in each topic area to encourage students to continue studying after GCSE.
Where can Modern Foreign Languages take me?
Languages Department
Mrs K Giller – Subject Leader (French and Spanish)
Mr. S Tidy – Teacher of MFL (French)
Miss M. Maleci – Teacher of MFL (Spanish)
Links to websites
KS3 and KS4 – General websites
Seneca – Learn 2x Faster (senecalearning.com)
Duolingo – The world’s best way to learn a language
Year 9 and 10 Spanish only
Pearson Edexcel GCSE Spanish (2024) | Pearson qualifications
GCSE Spanish – Edexcel (for exams from 2026) – BBC Bitesize
pearson-edexcel-gcse-9-1-spanish-2024-interactive-vocabulary-tool.xlsm (live.com)
Year 9 and 10 French only
Pearson Edexcel GCSE French (2024) | Pearson qualifications
GCSE French – Edexcel (for exams from 2026) – BBC Bitesize
pearson-edexcel-gcse-9-1-french-2024-interactive-vocabulary-tool.xlsm (live.com)
Year 11 French only
Pearson Edexcel GCSE French (2016) | Pearson qualifications
GCSE French – AQA (for exams until 2025) – BBC Bitesize
