Throughout the school, students receive lessons in Spanish language and Social Sciences. This allows students to rejoin the Spanish Education system if that is appropriate.

In the Sixth Form students can choose to study for the Spanish University entrance examination.

Spanish as a Second Language

Key Stage Three

During Year 7 of Key Stage 3, pupils become familiar with the sounds, the written form and the grammar of Spanish.

They then increase their confidence and competence throughout Year 8 and 9 by using this knowledge to express themselves in role-plays, conversations and writing.

Their understanding of the language is improved by listening to genuine Spanish people talking about different subjects and also by reading a range of stimulating texts.

Students are also encouraged to practise the language with their peers and outside of the school environment to help increase their cultural awareness of Spanish speaking countries.

Assessment

Assessment is done by means of the course book unit assessments which tests the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing.

A lo largo de los cursos de Year 7,8,9 (6 de Primaria, 1 y 2 de E.S.O.) se presentan textos interesantes, completos ( con principio, desarrollo y final ) , relacionados con el tema  general de la unidad y con un lenguaje muy adaptado a la edad de los alumnos. Las actividades introducen a los alumnos en el comentario de texto de forma muy guiada. Así mismo se trabajan actividades de Ortografía, Vocabulario y Gramática. Se presentan también algunos de los conceptos literarios básicos y en cada unidad se presenta un texto de un autor muy representativo. Por último, en el Taller de escritura se presenta siempre un texto que sirve como modelo del tipo de texto que se va a trabajar. Se intenta potenciar el gusto por la escritura y se estimula la creatividad de los alumnos mediante pautas que les muestran que escribir es algo que se aprende.

En Year 9 ( 2 de E.S.O.) los alumnos preparan su GCSE de español segunda lengua . Para dicho examen se prepara a los alumnos en las siguientes áreas : creación de diferentes tipos de textos , comentario de texto, prueba auditiva y expresión oral. ñ

GCSE

In Years 10 and 11 students will study GCSE Foreign Language Spanish or IGCSE First Language Spanish and A-Level Spanish.

This course aims to encourage candidates to:

• develop an understanding of the spoken and written forms of Spanish in a range of contexts;
• develop the ability to communicate effectively in Spanish, through both the spoken and written word, using a range of vocabulary and structures;
• develop a knowledge and understanding of Spanish grammar and the ability to apply it;
• apply their knowledge and understanding in a variety of relevant contexts, which reflect their previous learning and growing maturity;
• develop positive attitudes to Spanish learning.

Assessment is in the form of four papers, which cover the skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing.

IGCSE Spanish builds on all the skills acquired up to Key Stage 3: Reading, Writing, Understanding, Listening and Speaking.

The aims of the syllabus are to:

• enable students to communicate accurately, appropriately and effectively in speech and writing;
• enable students to understand and respond appropriately to what they hear, read and experience;
• encourage students to enjoy and appreciate the variety of language;
• complement the students’ other areas of study by developing skills of a more general application (eg analysis, synthesis, drawing of inferences);
• promote the students’ personal development and an understanding of themselves and others.

At the end of the course, students will be assessed on two papers:

Paper 1 or 2                       Reading              

Paper 3                               Directed Writing and Composition   

A Level

Minimum requirements:  Grade C at GCSE Spanish

This course is aimed at students for whom Spanish is not a first language.  It aims to encourage candidates to:

• develop the ability to understand Spanish from a variety of registers;

• communicate confidently and clearly in Spanish;

• form a sound base of skills, language and attitudes required for further study, work and leisure;

• develop insights into the culture and civilisation of the countries where Spanish is spoken, including the study of literary texts;

• increase intellectual and personal development by promoting learning and social skills.

Students can follow the one year AS level course, or follow a staged assessment route to A level by taking the AS qualification at the end of Year 12 and, subject to satisfactory performance, continue to take the final examinations at the end of Year 13.