Modern Languages
Aim
We aim to enable students across all age and ability ranges to study foreign languages with success and pleasure. Students are encouraged to develop the ability to understand foreign languages effectively for the purposes of practical communication. At the same time we help them develop an understanding of the grammar and nature of foreign languages. 
A vital part of their studies is the appreciation of the culture and civilisation of the respective foreign countries, and trips abroad are organised to bring the languages and cultures alive. Many students who take advantage of these opportunities to travel are especially motivated to continue learning foreign languages beyond the compulsory stage.
Teaching Methods
Foreign language lessons are lively, energetic places of learning with a variety of activities going on. There are opportunities to acknowledge the various degrees of ability within most classes by providing assignments of differing demands to suit the needs of members of the classes. Teachers predominantly use the foreign language in lessons to give pupils as much exposure as possible to the language that they are learning. The Department has pioneered some new techniques in language teaching, which have been published by a major educational publisher and generated great interest from other schools nationwide..
Resources
The Department has four dedicated classrooms, including a state of the art
digitised multimedia language laboratory, installed at the start of the 2002-3 academic year and subsequently upgraded in 2007. There is also a small room for the assistants' lessons and satellite television viewing for the Sixth Form. We have at our disposal all sorts of resources, such as the most recent textbooks, interactive whiteboards, LCD projectors and DVD players in every classroom, as well as a plethora of other resource materials and publications which are available to staff and pupils alike.
Courses offered
In the 1st Year (Year 7) pupils will take French, German or Spanish as their first modern language. They may add a second modern language later in their school career. All three languages are offered to A level.
For all public examinations the AQA specification is followed, with the coursework option preferred to the writing exam at both GCSE and A Level.
