Our Partner Schools

Excel Academy

KS3 Provision

Students study either French or Spanish in Year 7 upon entry into the Academy. In Year 7 the curriculum builds upon the foundations of language learning introduced in KS2 and introduces metacognitive approaches so that students begin to understand how they learn languages and the value and benefit of language learning. They are challenged through a series of lesson-based tasks and home works to communicate orally and in written form about themselves and their families, pets, the environment in which they live and school life. Students continue to study either French or Spanish in Year 8. 

In Year 8 the curriculum builds on the skills developed in KS2 and Year 7 and applies them to a range of cross-curricular themes, wherever possible exploiting an aspect of French/Spanish speaking culture. A stronger emphasis on grammar and syntax is introduced and students learn to write and converse in 3 tenses, on which they can build later.

Our curriculum is carefully sequenced via an evidence informed and research-based curriculum using Conti’s MARS EARS approach to make sure that over a sequence of lessons, tasks build from modelling, receptive practice and structured production.  Over time the sentence builder approach to scaffolding is gradually reduced allowing students to build independence and develop strong recall and retrieval. 

In Year 9 the curriculum continues to build on the skills developed and knowledge acquired in the KS3 years and revisits some topics in greater detail whilst also introducing new topic and linguistic concepts. Students can opt to study either GCSE French or Spanish in Years 9 – 11. The focus is on GCSE Theme 1 – Identity and Culture and further develops the idea of retrieval practice, interweaving of topics, metacognition and recall approaches so that learners understand how building on and embedding prior knowledge is key to success.

KS4 Provision

Students pick their options at the end of year 9.  Students who choose to continue with French or Spanish have five hours of lessons a fortnight, following the AQA specification.  The MFL department at Excel Academy plan to use the AQA specification from September 2024 to teach the reformed GCSE.

Highlights of our provision

The Languages department at Excel Academy endeavours towards our motto of ‘expecting excellence’. We believe that a ‘world-class’ curriculum facilitates personal development and equips students with the knowledge and skills needed for the demands of local, national and international society. We intend to promote interest and dispel the myth that language study is not important. We provide a curriculum for our students that allows them to attain high quality qualifications routed in a deep foundation of transferrable knowledge acquired from a range of subject areas from a broad and balanced curriculum.

Mrs L Soboljew,  Assistant Principal,  Head of MFL.  Excel Academy

Erdington Academy

KS3 Provision:

In Years 7-9 all students study French for two hours per week.  The curriculum uses the Dynamo textbooks as a foundation and the students follow a learning journey that allows them to express themselves about topics including family and friends, hobbies, sports, music, technology, food and the environment.  

The key vocabulary, phonics and grammar linked to these topics are carefully sequenced students revisit these core aspects as they make their way through the learning journey to build confidence and fluency with the language.

At Erdington Academy we are very proud of the cultural links we make within our learning and when looking at all topics we make connections to French speaking countries all over the world.   Examples of this include looking at a Martinique carnival when discussing celebrations or listening to rai and zouglou when pupils are discussing their musical preferences.

KS4 Provision:

At the end of Year 9, students complete the option process and can choose French.  GCSE teaching begins in Year 10 with all pupils having 3 hours a week following the new AQA specification. 

Home Languages:

Erdington Academy is very proud to support learners to gain an extra qualification in their home, heritage or community language.

In the 22-2023 academic year, students successfully completed GCSEs in Arabic, Urdu, Punjabi, Spanish & Italian.

In the 23-24 academic year students will also take exams in Polish, Portuguese and Greek alongside the language offered in the previous academic year.

Jay Patel. Head of Languages. Erdington Academy

King Edward VI School, Lichfield

Curriculum Intent

We truly believe that language learning is a “liberation from insularity in today’s global society”. All pupils in years 7 and 8 learn French and German and have the opportunity to continue both up to A-level.  Through the study of one romance and one Germanic language, they gain an understanding of the similarities and differences between not only the languages themselves, but also the cultures of the countries in which they are spoken.

Pupils learn to communicate with increased spontaneity, independence and accuracy throughout their language learning journey with us and we also aspire to provide an excellent basis for future language study, whichever language that may be.

Implementation, literacy and independence

We feel it is important that our pupils value any prior knowledge and skills from their life experiences as well as from any formal learning and we highlight these from our very first transition lessons. We teach pupils the skills they need to acquire new Vocabulary, Grammar and Phonics so that they become increasingly independent as they move from novice towards expert linguists. Literacy is integral to everything that we do and we are explicit in teaching the skills required for each of the four key modalities of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Pupils are encouraged to use the wealth of authentic French and German resources that may be of particular interest to them.

We provide all pupils with bespoke “Passbooks” in which the curriculum is broken down into manageable chunks of learning.  They also enable pupils to see their progression throughout each unit, year and key stage.  In lessons we model differentiated exemplar work, provide scaffolds to support independent practice and encourage pupils to share identify and share their mistakes.  Regular retrieval practice is essential for successful language learning and our spiral curriculum ensures that current and previous learning is regularly revisited and tested. Our curriculum is ambitious and in order to develop confidence in our learners, the homework we set helps to embed learning in the long-term memory. We encourage the ‘little and often’ approach and pupils can use online courses and apps outside of the classroom.

Highlight of our provision

“We are extremely proud that 70% of our cohort at KES Lichfield study either French, German or both at GCSE, especially considering the current national context regarding foreign language study in the UK.  This puts our pupils in a privileged position when applying for jobs having studied two of the languages most in demand by UK employers.  We are also delighted to be able offer MFL at A-level.” 

Shirley Dunn.  Head of Languages.  King Edward VI School, Lichfield.

Hamstead Hall Academy

KS3 Provision:

In KS3, students study French or Spanish and have 5 hours a fortnight of lessons in sets 2 to 4 and 3 hours a fortnight of lessons in Set 1 as they also study Latin. In years 7, 8 and 9 students follow a bespoke languages curriculum. Exploring a range of topics, they are taught key recyclable structures building tense fluency in the past, the present and the future.

• Introductions
• Family descriptions
• Likes and dislikes
• Films and music
• Free time activities
• Sports and games
• Clothes
• Food and drinks
• Town
• School
• Holidays
• Technology
• Environment
• Health
• Family

KS4 Provision: 

Students pick their options at the end of year 9.  Students who choose to continue with French, Spanish, or Latin have five hours of lessons a fortnight, following the Eduqas specification. We also offer Punjabi classes after school with the option of sitting the GCSE examination. The team at Hamstead Hall Academy plan to use the Eduqas or AQA specification from September 2024 to teach the reformed GCSE.

KS5 Provision:

Hamstead Hall Academy currently does not have any French or Spanish classes in KS5, although French has been taught in the past.  The team hope to do so again in the future.  Students have 8 hours a fortnight of lessons.

Highlights of our provision

“The Languages department at Hamstead Hall Academy is delighted to offer a variety of languages that offer our students a wide range of opportunities. We pride ourselves on our above national average number of students entered for the Ebacc (53%). We also offer access to GCSE examinations in community languages that go beyond our initial offer. Our vision is based on the underlying principle that every child has the right to learn a language as it will offer them access to the best life chances possible.” 

Leila Dupon.  Head of Languages.  Hamstead Hall Academy.