Curriculum Maps can be found here

The Head of Department is Miss Curtis

Our department Bible verse is: “There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning.” (1 Corinthians 14:10-11)

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At Trinity School, pupils learn either French or German from Year 7 through to Year 11. The year group is split in half and the language they study is allocated at random. Almost all pupils are expected to study that language to GCSE level. In Key Stage 3 language lessons at Trinity, pupils are taught some basic vocabulary and the grammatical building blocks of the language. Pupils are also taught the transferable skills they need to develop their learning by becoming more independent learners. Pupils practise using the language in different types of situations developing all four skills (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking). At Key Stage Three pupils have six language lessons a fortnight and they cover a whole range of topics including family, hobbies, technology, town, school, healthy living and holidays. Students are also made aware of cultural differences and what life is like in French/German speaking countries.

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Students are formally assessed in the style of the GCSE exam three times a year in all four skills (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking). Students therefore become familiar with the GCSE criteria early on and are very well prepared to continue trying to fulfil the criteria at Key Stage Four.

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The assessment descriptors for this subject are available here.

Key Stage 4

Students continue to be assessed in all four skills (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking) throughout Key Stage Four to support their progress, but they are formally assessed at the end of Year 11 in final exams. Each skill is equally weighted at 25% each. Students are set according to progress and attainment and entered for either Higher or Foundation tier.

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French/German GCSE

We use the AQA Examination Board for GCSE French and German. The course occupies 10% of the students’ timetable, which means four lessons per fortnight in Year 10 and five lessons per fortnight in Year 11. Students build on the topics, knowledge and skills developed at Key Stage Three. The topics studied are interesting and varied and are of everyday relevance. They are divided into three overall themes:

1) Identity and culture: free time and leisure activities, media and technology, relationships with friends and family, customs and festivals (including in French/German speaking countries).

2) Local, national and global areas of interest: house and home, town and region, the environment and global issues, healthy living, social issues, travel and holidays.

3) Current and Future Study and Employment: life at school, education and studies, the world of work, jobs and career choices, ambitions and future plans.