Modern Foreign Language

At Golborne High School, Modern Foreign Languages are a vibrant part of the school curriculum.

When pupils join us in Year 7, they are given the opportunity to choose which language they would like to study; this is either French or Spanish. For some pupils, this means continuing to build on the language they began learning at KS2, and for others, this means learning an entirely new language.

All pupils at Golborne High School study a foreign language at KS3 and around 70% of our pupils choose to continue with languages at GCSE level as part of the EBacc. This is something that we are extremely proud of! The MFL department is a very successful and high performing department at Golborne. Our department consists of six members of staff, all of whom are subject specialists. Amongst us, we have knowledge of French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Turkish and Russian.

The Golborne MFL curriculum is based around independent language skills, which enable pupils to communicate for practical purposes. Over time, pupils develop the skills and the confidence to be able to express their ideas and thoughts in French or Spanish, and understand and respond orally and through writing. On the curriculum journey from KS3 (Year 7 to 9) to KS4 (Year 10 to 11) and beyond, pupils develop their linguistic competencies in each of the four skill areas: Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing.

A strong emphasis is placed on the three pillars of phonics, grammar and vocabulary, which are the essential characteristics of language learning. Pupils are also deeply immersed into Francophone and Hispanic culture and traditions, which is what brings our curriculum to life!

MFL lessons at Golborne are interactive, challenging and designed to enable pupils to use their language skills independently and manipulate language so that it is fit for any purpose; whether it be ordering food in a café, asking for directions or arranging to meet up with a friend. It is our mission to not only equip our pupils with the language skills and knowledge they need for immediate use in the classroom, but also for further language study and use in higher education or in future employment.

At KS3, pupils learn to discuss a range of topics including family and friends, free time, home town, food and holidays. At KS4, our pupils in Year 11 study the three AQA Themes: ‘Identity and Culture’, ‘Local, National, International and Global Areas of Interest’ and ‘Current and Future Study and Employment’. As of September 2024, our Year 10 pupils have begun studying the new AQA GCSE specification, with the three AQA Themes as follows: ‘People and lifestyle’, ‘Popular culture’ and ‘Communication and the world around us’.

The Golborne MFL curriculum aims to bring languages alive in the classroom. All our lessons allow pupils to hear and speak the target language in an experimental and encouraging environment. Our curriculum provides pupils with the skills, knowledge and cultural capital they need to ensure they are prepared for life and are aware of the world around them and the opportunities awaiting them. We hope that our pupils feel inspired to travel the world and use their language skills wherever they may go!

Our extra-curricular activities including Duolingo Club, Foreign Language Club (where languages such as French, Turkish, Italian are taught), International Film Club and Study Support Club are always well attended. We also celebrate key events annually including ‘European Day of Languages’ in September and ‘International Week’ in July. We are currently exploring opportunities to enrich our pupils’ experiences through future trips abroad to Spain and France.