Spanish

We provide an ambitious curriculum which focuses on pupils using big texts to elicit and practise the three main areas of phonics, grammar and vocabulary. We focus on developing their competencies in listening, reading, speaking and writing, building up their independence to be spontaneous and to deconstruct texts in a range of contexts and settings.

The content is delivered through a spiral curriculum so that pupils revisit key themes with increasing complexity to ensure that the language is constantly reinforced, solidified and extended. We interleave vocabulary content and grammatical theory and use spaced learning and retrieval practice to increase knowledge.

Our pupils are constantly involved in active practice, consolidation and reflection to cement deep learning whilst frequent low-stakes testing enables the transfer of knowledge into long term memory. We want to make our pupils aware of the value and importance of learning a language and aim to develop their respect for others both in our community and around the world.   

Aims of our Key Stage 3 curriculum 

We begin in Year 7 with a wide variety of vocabulary that helps pupils build a personal picture and talk about things that really interest them as we learn to describe family and friends, explain our school day and where we live.  We focus on recognising and using opinions and connectives to express ourselves whilst understanding using the present tense. In Year 8 and 9 we develop and use an increasingly wide range of vocabulary that goes beyond the immediate needs and interests of the pupils, allowing them to express and justify opinions and take part in discussion about wider issues such as health and the environment. They are subsequently consistently challenged and encouraged to cope with unfamiliar language and unexpected responses. Throughout all year groups phonics plays a big part encouraging them to be confident linguists. 

Aims of Key Stage 4 curriculum  

In Key Stage 4, we study eight topics covering themes such as the neighbourhood, education, environment and holidays. Pupils are expected to understand and provide information and opinions about these themes relating to their own experiences and those of other people. They will also be able to recognise and conjugate a range of tenses in the past, present and future. 

Subject leader: Gemma.Neale@excelsiornewcastle.org.uk  

Spanish-1.pdf