The Key Stage 3 curriculum lasts for three years and the Key Stage 4 two years. We aim to help pupils develop a range of cross-curricular skills, beyond the language per se. These include skills such as problem solving, decoding, techniques for memorisation, the ability to listen attentively, literacy in all forms, communication, oracy, initiative taking, the ability to use resources effectively and improve teamwork in a cultural, social, historical and geographical context. We try to cultivate empathy, raise aspirations, confidence levels and overall resilience. Pupils are encouraged to improve their ability to work with independence, determination and resolution. In addition to linguistic skills, students will have the opportunity to explore certain aspects of Spanish culture, with the aim of fostering a curiosity for the wider world and a greater understanding of different cultures. We endeavour to inspire a love of language learning and an intellectual curiosity about how language can both influence and be influenced by a diversity of culture.
Key knowledge within the KS3 curriculum considers pupil experiences at KS2 and will build towards the requirements of GCSE. We have designed our curriculum around topics that are pertinent to our pupils’ world and aspects of their lives they care about, following a logical order of introduction of grammatical terms and topic areas, eventually leading to those required at GCSE. In line with National Curriculum guidelines, the purpose of study at KS3 is for the pupils to develop skills in 5 areas: reading, listening, speaking, writing and translation. Through these skills, students will be able to manipulate language for a variety of purposes (both spoken and written). We regularly revisit topics and key structures to develop long term memory.
Spanish follows the Edexcel course and the lessons offer pupils the chance to develop their speaking, listening, reading, writing and translation skills. In line with government guidelines, the purpose of study at Key Stage 4 is to continue to build on student’s skills and understanding of Spanish, required for the successful completion of study at GCSE level. This will be done through the use of the written and spoken word. Pupils will continue to develop their skills in 5 areas: reading, listening, speaking, writing and translation. Through these skills, students will build upon the base of vocabulary acquired throughout their time learning Spanish. and they will meet more complex grammatical principals, that will allow them to manipulate language more confidently and fluently for a variety of purposes (both spoken and written). In addition to linguistic skills, students will have the opportunity to explore more aspects of culture, enabling them to acquire a greater understanding of different countries and cultures.
KS3 students follow SOW from Viva 1, 2 and 3 throughout KS3. GCSE students follow the Edexcel Viva textbook to guide and support their progression through GCSE.
In Spanish, at Key Stage 3, we assess students’ understanding through a range of formative strategies. These include a range of ‘chunked’ exercises with several mini plenaries and extensive opportunities for self and peer marking, whole-class teacher feedback and time for spoken and written (green pen) reflection, enabling students to self-regulate and make improvements to their work. We place emphasis on self-correction rather than simply marking work wrong to help pupils focus on the ‘how’ to put things right as opposed to the error they made. At Key Stage 4 we regularly assess students’ understanding, using the assessment objectives set by the exam board. Clear and direct feedback is offered to all students via the use of individual verbal feedback and whole-class feedback covering common mistakes and/or correcting misconceptions. Some of this takes place through low-stakes quizzing using mini whiteboards either as a whole class or in pairs. Quizzing includes both current topic areas and retrieval practice from earlier in the year or previous years. At KS3, each term there is a summative assessment in one of the four skills linked to the topic studied. The assessments take place when the pupils are ready to boost confidence and to increase the sense of achievement. Pupils are given time to reflect on their performance and on how to improve. At KS4, summative assessment takes place at the end of a topic area in at least one of the four skills.