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Spanish

Intent – why do we teach what we teach in Spanish?

It is our intention that all students should be confident and fluent in a modern foreign language. We see this as an essential, life enhancing, skill. In the Spanish department our intention is to develop the following knowledge, aptitudes and dispositions in our students:

A lifelong love of languages
A confidence in languages and the ability to take risks and try out new things
A sound grounding in the Spanish language and the ability to speak, read and write in Spanish
An extensive Spanish vocabulary
Enhanced cultural capital through exposure to Spanish culture
An appreciation of the value of language learning in the modern world
The ability to learn effectively, both individually and collaboratively
Confidence and resilience
Improved cognitive abilities across all subjects with an emphasis on assimilating and organising new information and high level retention and recall.

Through Spanish, all students explore cultural similarities and differences with British traditions, which provides them with contrasts and a better understanding of the world. Through learning Spanish, most of our students qualify for the EBACC and can more easily access leading universities. Our lessons are taught mainly in the target language to maximise students’ confidence and familiarity.

Implementation – How do we teach Spanish?

The curriculum for Spanish regularly revisits concepts that gradually develop students’ four skills – listening, speaking, reading and writing. The Spanish department believes in the importance of introducing the students to complex structures from KS3 so the language can be reviewed, making it easier for students to recall the language from their long-term memory. All teachers are also committed to share and teach Spanish culture in order to expand the students’ awareness and knowledge. Beyond the mere linguistic knowledge, all teachers are consciously teaching culture to make the Spanish language become alive and facilitate students’ understanding.

Our Spanish lessons are tailored to explore four core skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing through different formats and activities. From Year 7, all students start engaging not only with subject content, but also with the general culture and current affairs of the country. By the end of Year 8, all students can present themselves and communicate through basic everyday tasks equivalent to A1 and A2 tasks from the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Outside the lessons, students can expand their knowledge and enjoy learning by practising Spanish in a wide range of extra-curricular activities (spelling bee competitions, culture and homework clubs, through which all teachers seek to ignite the students’ appreciation and engagement with languages, various opportunities across London and partnerships with local universities (Queen Mary University namely) who regularly have speakers coming down to Chobham.

Impact – What are the outcomes from Spanish?

In KS3 Spanish students are able to confidently articulate the traditions and customs of festivals which are celebrated in Spanish speaking countries and communities. The students are also able to show their listening and reading skills on different topics and for different purposes. The students can use complex grammatical structure to express themselves in spoken and written Spanish. This is evident through students exercise books, the checking understanding that takes place in lessons as well as the regular assessed tasks, culminating in twice yearly assessments which are sat during assessment weeks.

At KS4, Spanish is a very popular subject which is studied by over two thirds of the student. At GCSE 2023, over 30% of the students secured a Grade 5 or above; with over 15% students securing a Grade 7 or above. This allowed students to access their chosen Post-16 courses. Spanish is also taught at A Level with 6^th formers. At A-Level there is a 100% pass rate with over 40% of students securing a grade B or above in 2023.

There are also some students who go on to study Spanish at higher education institutions, some highlights are below:

2023 – Laura Prochnow Padilha: Hispanic studies University of Warwick

2023 – Eliza Yomaszuk: Linguistics University Colleague London

Exam Board Information

GCSE Syllabus Studied – AQA Spanish

A Level Syllabus Studied – AQA Spanish