Spanish

Subject lead: Cayetana Fernandez

It is our intention that all students enjoy learning languages, and they are able to use the knowledge learnt to equip them to became successful citizens of a global community.

We aim to strive for success by creating confident communicators in either French or Spanish. Students will achieve that success by focusing on learning to:

•   communicate confidently and competently in the Target language

•             understand of how memory works and what techniques work best

•             develop an understanding of TL grammar and vocabulary & therefore English grammar/vocabulary and able to retain it long term and apply it to different contexts

•             appreciate other countries’ customs and traditions & therefore reflect on their own

• develop ambition and debunk myth that languages are too hard/irrelevant by giving pupils opportunity to shine

• broaden outlooks and horizons through awareness of TL culture

• appreciate other countries’ customs and traditions & therefore reflect on their own

Key Stage 3:

Year 7: By the end of the year students will be able to demonstrate accurate use of Spanish phonics with familiar and new words and phrases. They will be able to greet other, introduce and describe themselves and their families, tell the time, give clear opinions supported by reasons and have a simple shopping conversation with a stranger. They will be able to use a bi-lingual dictionary to look for new word meanings and check present tense verb conjugations.

Year 8: By the end of the year students will be able to talk about themselves and their lives and express opinions with reasons Students will be able to use some transactional language and some more formal register. They will be able to use three tenses (present, near future and preterite) and more complex structures (e.g. conditional, comparative, superlative). They will also develop their knowledge of Hispanic culture.Year 9: By the end of the year students will be able to talk about themselves and their lives but also about wider ranging issues (human rights, the environment, etc.). They will be able to use the language they would need for arriving in Spain and meeting Spanish people. Students will be able to use three tenses (present, near future and preterite), plus the imperfect and simple future and they will develop their knowledge of Hispanic culture

Key Stage 4:

Year 10: By the end of the year pupils will be able to confidently describe aspects of their home life including their family, relationships, school and where they live, and be able to speak about both past and future holidays. They should be able to use a range of grammatical structures to comprehend and describe both familiar and unfamiliar contexts, asking for information when they need it. 

Year 11: By the end of the year pupils should be able to confidently operate in a range of contexts across all 4 skills. They should be able to understand and describe local as well as global issues such as the environment, and be able to comprehend and describe their future plans and careers.

GCSE Spanish has a Foundation Tier (grades 1–5) and a Higher Tier (grades 4–9). Students will take 4 papers (listening, reading, writing and speaking). Students must take all four question papers at the same tier. All question papers must be taken in the same series.

Paper 1: Listening

What’s assessed

Understanding and responding to different types of spoken language

How it’s assessed

Written exam: 35 minutes (Foundation Tier), 45 minutes (Higher Tier)

40 marks (Foundation Tier), 50 marks (Higher Tier)

25% of GCSEeral conversation – 30 marks (3–5 minutes at Foundation Tier; 5–7 minutes at Higher Tier)

Paper 2: Speaking

What’s assessed

Communicating and interacting effectively in speech for a variety of purposes

How it’s assessed

Non-exam assessment

7–9 minutes (Foundation Tier) + preparation time

10–12 minutes (Higher Tier) + preparation time

60 marks (for each of Foundation Tier and Higher Tier)

25% of GCSE

Questions

Foundation Tier and Higher Tier

The format is the same at Foundation Tier and Higher Tier, but with different stimulus questions for the Photo card and different stimulus materials for the Role-play. The timings are different too:

Role-play – 15 marks (2 minutes at Foundation Tier; 2 minutes at Higher Tier)

Photo card – 15 marks (2 minutes at Foundation Tier; 3 minutes at Higher Tier)

General conversation – 30 marks (3–5 minutes at Foundation Tier; 5–7 minutes at Higher Tier)

Paper 3: Reading

What’s assessed

Understanding and responding to different types of written language

How it’s assessed

Written exam: 45 minutes (Foundation Tier), 1 hour (Higher Tier)

60 marks (for each of Foundation Tier and Higher Tier)

25% of GCSE

Paper 4: Writing

What’s assessed

Communicating effectively in writing for a variety of purposes

How it’s assessed

Written exam: 1 hour (Foundation Tier), 1 hour 15 minutes (Higher Tier)

50 marks at Foundation Tier and 60 marks at Higher Tier 25% of GCSE

Key Stage 5: (if applicable)

This qualification is linear. Linear means that students will sit all their exams at the end of the course.

Core content

1. Social issues and trends

2. Political and artistic culture

3. Grammar

4. Works: Literary texts and a film Assessments

Paper 1: Listening, reading and writing

What’s assessed

Aspects of Hispanic society

Artistic culture in the Hispanic world

Multiculturalism in Hispanic society

Aspects of political life in Hispanic society

Grammar

How it’s assessed

Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes

100 marks

50% of A-level

Paper 2: Writing

What’s assessed

One text and one film or two texts from the list set in the specification

Grammar

How it’s assessed

Written exam: 2 hours

80 marks in total

20% of A-level

Paper 3: Speaking

What’s assessed

Individual research project

One of four themes (ie Aspects of Hispanic society or Artistic culture in the Hispanic world or Multiculturalism in Hispanic society or Aspects of political life in Hispanic society)

How it’s assessed

Oral exam: 21–23 minutes (including 5 minutes preparation time)

60 marks in total 30% of A-level

Student Leadership:

We love to promote the love for language outside the lessons by organising days trips, residentials, languages days and clubs. We are also proud of our Language Ambassadors.