Our Vision
‘Communication unites us all’
Imagine living in a society where you could only speak to 1 in every 21 people. Or your Instagram or Snapchat blocked you once you’d seen 30% of all content. By limiting yourself to communicating in only one language, you really are limiting yourself completely!As a languages faculty we offer you the opportunity to broaden your horizons and enhance your opportunities by providing a nurturing, supportive and caring environment where students feel confident to get involved and are willing to put themselves beyond their comfort zone, safe in the knowledge that failure is simply another word for “opportunity to learn”.
These opportunities to learn extend well beyond the four walls of the conventional classroom. Whilst studying languages at Hayesfield you will be invited to take part in foreign language exchanges, visits to France and Spain in enrichment week and explore further afield in Sixth Form by taking part in a month-long adventure to another continent.
In preparation for these potentially life-changing opportunities, we provide access to dedicated foreign language assistants – native speakers employed purely to support and develop the verbal communication skills of our students. We couple this self-improvement opportunity with strong links to local primary schools, where students have the chance to share their love of language learning and inspire the next generation of linguists.
The world languages faculty firmly believes that the key to a successful life is the ability to communicate effectively with those around you. The skills you will learn through studying a foreign language will facilitate you along this journey as well as supporting your learning across the curriculum – to be a successful linguist you need to be able to analyse, rationalise, hypothesise, and criticise, as well as being able to create, contemplate, postulate and innovate.
Being able to communicate well in your mother tongue will take you on a path to success, being able to communicate in another language will give you the confidence to explore off that beaten path.
Faculty Staff
- Mrs Catherine Blyth – Head of Faculty
- Mrs Elizabeth Cordero – Lower school coordinator and lead teacher of Lati
- Mrs Helen Horobin – Teacher of French and German
- Mr Ian Johnson – Upper school French coordinator
- Mrs Francisca Lucas – Teacher of Spanish and French
- Miss Emilie Saban – Teacher of French and Spanish
- Mr Johnathan Webb – Teacher of French and 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 and Spain. We also encourage our Sixth Form students to attend local conferences and spend a week in a language school. We have French and Spanish 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.
Our 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 are extremely lucky to 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. POS in Lower School identify expectations of students working at differing levels within the year group and suggest activities to extend students working at the top end.
Activities which can support students in Languages outside lesson time:
- Read the news in French and Spanish 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
