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The Warriner School

Modern Foreign Languages

Welcome to the Modern Foreign Languages Department

Subject Leader

Mr P Traore

The Team

Miss P Gomm, Teaching and Learning Lead

Mrs U Akeh

Ms J Lewis

Mrs G Martinez

Ms S McWilliam

Curriculum Intent

Our intent focuses on gaining the knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and phonics, whilst explicitly knowing Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary in MFL. The curriculum knowledge at KS3 takes into account KS2 experiences and builds on them as well as laying the foundation of the knowledge needed at KS4. The KS4 knowledge leads and supports the AS Level and A Level Year 1 knowledge. The A Level course builds the foundation of the university level courses through its extensive grammar teaching, its cultural knowledge including at least a film and a novel or a play. The curriculum is planned to allow interleaving in terms of language and themes. It also allows to extend pupils’ knowledge and skills through the different years and key stages.

The knowledge that we expect students to know is centred around some themes that are explored in all key stages such as:

  • Relationships and family structure
  • Traditions and festivals
  • Leisure and culture
  • Home and environment
  • Social and global issues
  • Citizenship, diversity and inclusion
  • Education
  • The world of work

The disciplinary knowledge focuses on students thinking like linguists being able to articulate their views in the Target Language.

The declarative knowledge focuses on students being able to express their views on the key themes of the curriculum.

The procedural knowledge focuses on the use of vocabulary, grammar and phonics to communicate.

Our curriculum mapping plans sequences of learning based on pupils’ prior knowledge and on what knowledge is necessary to meet successfully exam criteria at GCSE, AS Level and A Level and preparing them appropriately to continue their studies at university.

The Warriner School MFL curriculum aims to ensure that children:

  • discover the culture and traditions of the countries where the language is being spoken.
  • understand and respond to spoken and written language from a variety of sources including authentic documents.
  • speak with increasing confidence, continually improving their fluency and spontaneity as well as improving the accuracy of their pronunciation and intonation
  • write at varying length, for different purposes and audiences, using a variety of grammatical structures when appropriate.

KEY Stage 3

Year 7: all students learn French for six hours each fortnight.

Year 8: students continue with French and most also begin to learn German as well, giving three hours to each language every fortnight.

Year 9: continues the pattern of Year 8.  This ensures that the great majority of our pupils are ready to being the study of either French or German to GCSE.

Key Stage 4

French and German are popular choices at Key Stage 4.  

At GCSE, students will study the following themes: 

Theme 1: Identity and culture 

Me, my family and friends 

  • Relationships with family and friends 
  • Marriage/partnership  

Technology in everyday life 

  • Social media 
  • Mobile technology  

Free-time activities 

  • Music 
  • Cinema and TV 
  • Food and eating out 
  • Sport 

Customs and festivals in French-speaking countries/communities 

Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest 

Home, town, neighbourhood and region Social issues 

  • Charity/voluntary work 
  • Healthy/unhealthy living  

Global issues 

  • The environment 
  • Poverty/homelessness  

Travel and tourism 

Theme 3: Current and future study and employment 

My studies 

Life at school/college  

Education post-16 

Career choices and ambitions 

Examination Information

GCSE                                                           A Level
AQA French                                               AQA
AQA German                             

Other Information

Students are encouraged to take part in written exchanges with pupils in countries where the language is spoken and to take part in visits abroad. 

Year 9 Trip to Lille Christmas Market