Our Vision
Developing the skills required to interact successfully in the non English–speaking world is at the core of language learning. The ever-increasing importance of the international world bears testimony to the need to understand each other’s languages, perspectives and cultures in order to stabilise our future.
The subject we teach is a vital part of bringing about world peace through engendering communication, respect and world understanding. We have a commitment to nurturing this within the students we teach through exciting, purposeful, challenging, creative and well-structured lessons using appropriate resources.
Faculty Staff
- Mrs Catherine Blyth – Head of Faculty (Spanish/French/Mandarin)
- Mrs Elizabeth Cordero – KS3 Languages Co-ordinator (Spanish/French/Latin)
- Mrs Helen Horobin – French/German (part time)
- Mr Ian Johnson – Head of Upper School and Sixth Form French
- Mrs Francisca Lucas – Spanish/French
- Miss Harriet Temperley – French/Spanish
- Mr Johnathan Webb – French/Spanish
Enriching Learning
It is important that students get a sense of the world in which they live. There are trips to different parts of Europe and also exchanges with France, Spain and Germany. We also encourage our Sixth Form students to attend local conferences and spend a week in a language school. We have Spanish, French and German Language Assistants work with our students to improve their confidence and speaking skills.
Staff are involved in the Extra Curricular LEAP programme and the Masterclass programme.
LEAP activities include:
- International Ambassadors (for our native speakers to be involved in helping others in our
community) - Extension languages (enabling students to sit A levels and GCSEs in their native language)
- Mandarin Chinese
- Visits to Bath University (translating and interpreting suite)
Student Support in Languages
In Languages students are supported by their teachers inside and outside lessons. Students with SEN will
receive additional support according to their needs. Staff use a variety of teaching methods to support
different styles of learning.
The needs of the most able students are challenged through imaginative extension work and enrichment
activities.
Native speakers are encouraged to use their own language to help others in the school, through our
Languages Ambassador programme. Students volunteer to become ambassadors and are trained to
interepret and translate for visitors to the school.
The progress of all students, including those with special needs, is monitored through assessment,
observation and discussion at faculty meetings, in accordance with the school’s Assessment Policy.
We have close links with Bath University, who send us one of their students as a
volunteer to work with ours in the classroom.
Differentiation may be by resource, task, group, outcome, teacher intervention and teaching approach.
Activities which can support students in Languages outside lesson time:
- Read the news in Spanish, French or German everyday- there is no better activity to help deepen
appreciation of another language and country - Use the advice of our School Librarian, Hayesfield’s online catalogue, local Libraries, the
interlibrary loan service and access to University Library catalogues to extend their reading - Make use of an online Memrise account to improve vocabulary
- Make use of Linguascope
- Enter local, regional, university and national competitions for speaking
- Enjoy a range of films in another language
- Establish Book Circles and Film Clubs and the like to share expertise and enthusiasm.
