Examination Boards: AQA (GCSE 8692 – for current Year 11s only / A-level 7692)
AQA (GCSE 8658 – New specification starting Sept 2024)
The MFL Department has made the decision to change Examination Board for Year 10 students beginning their studies in September of 2024. Therefore, please be mindful that there are two learning ladders (LLs) and learning journeys (LJs) for GCSE students showing on the website. The Year 11s will be taught the current GCSE (Spanish AQA 8658).
The Spanish curriculum has been thoughtfully planned to introduce students to the language in a way that makes them confident in speaking, reading, writing and understanding this important world-wide language. As part of the course, and what makes it exciting, is the way the language learning is embedded in the culture and communities of Spain.
Spanish is a popular subject as a Year 9 option. It is recognised that students benefit from studying a modern foreign language because it improves their critical thinking, research and creativity skills. Knowledge and understanding of a foreign language to GCSE is highly valued by employers and universities because learning a language is an important life skill.
At GCSE there are three themes: People and Lifestyle; Popular Culture; Communication and the World Around Us. Together the three components cover topics as diverse as Identity, relationships, healthy living, lifestyle education, work, customs, festivals, celebrations, travel, tourism, places of interest, media and where people live.
The skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing are embedded in the GCSE syllabus, over the two years, with conscientious application, students become knowledgeable and confident in understanding and using Spanish.
At Spanish at A-level there is a healthy uptake of students wishing to pursue the language.
In the A-level syllabus modern and traditional values, set in the culture and communities of Spain, are explored. Alongside learning about the grammar and the structure of the language is an exploration of the political setting: monarchy, republic, dictatorship and popular movements, all offer an insight into modern Spain’s historical and current climate. The thriving artistic culture is captured in its heritage and landscape, today’s youth and tomorrow’s citizens. To enhance the experience books and films are studied.
Possible career choices are wide and varied: tourism, finance, marketing and translating, to name just a few.
