Modern Foreign Languages

Our school is passionate about the value of learning a language and we provide this for students of all ability. We believe that having knowledge of more than one language can open doors to many opportunities, both within our community and abroad.

Experiencing diverse cultures and cuisine form important parts of learning and as part of our curriculum. Each year we take students to El Torero restaurant in Newcastle so they can sample Spanish dining. In 2025, we are excited to offer an educational visit to Barcelona, Spain.

Year 12 and 13 students

Studying Spanish at A Level is the smart route to a great future in today’s global, multilingual, and interconnected world. This two-year programme builds on the skills acquired at GCSE to boost communicative fluency and to immerse students in the culture and heritage of the countries where the language is spoken.

Key topics cover contemporary political and social issues relevant to teenaged children and to their future careers. Students study works of literature and film as a means of cementing and contextualising the linguistic and cultural content of the course. Students are assessed at the end of the year across three areas.

Listening, reading, and writing – 50%
Writing based on film and novel studies – 20%
Speaking, including independent research project – 30%