Languages
Team Leader - Mrs H. Ricakaby-Collins
Mrs C. Harvey-Hodges – KS3 Learning Leader – French & Spanish
Mr J.Kennedy – EAL Co-ordinator – French & Spanish
Mr R.Deserces – French & Spanish
Mrs S.Syed – EAL Support
The teaching of Languages at Northampton School for Boys is outstanding and the Team is staffed by very enthusiastic, experienced linguists. We devise our own Schemes of Work designed to make language learning enjoyable and engaging, whilst developing a strong linguistic foundation in knowledge of grammar. Students study French or Spanish from Year 7 through to Year 11. This gives them the confidence, strategies and tuition they need to excel in their Modern Language learning. In Years 7- 10, students will be timetabled with three lessons per week, and four lessons per week in Year 11.
In Years 7&8 students undertake projects towards the end of each year focusing on developing their understanding of and love for the culture. Projects include: films, food, music, home life, Francophone/Hispanic countries. These projects coupled with the culturally focused Read First texts that students access at the start of each new topic help them to develop a true love of Francophone and Hispanic cultures.
As students transition into GCSE they explore traditional topics of Hometown, Family, Hobbies and Jobs, alongside Healthy Living, Illness & Injury, the impact of Technology and Social Media and the Environment.
The vocabulary for all lessons in Year 7-11 is prepared in knowledge organisers, so students can refer to this for accurate spellings and vocab learning for fortnightly low stakes quizzing. Knowledge organisers also include all the big questions to show the students the intended communication outcome for each week of learning; these are then used to support preparation for the final speaking exam at the end of Year 11.
The languages schemes of work have been carefully designed by our KS3 Learning Lead and our Curriculum Team Leader to build on the students’ learning each year; they also incorporate regular practice of all four skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking( and we emphasise literacy comprehension, grammatical accuracy and variation of vocabulary as the core pillars to provide access to successful communication.
Assessments and Schemes of Work
Pathways are set in Year 7 and all students are given information on how to attain their minimum attainment grade in each year. All assessments will be graded using the pathway system.
Our schemes of work are available in students knowledge organisers and on the VLE or in Teams.
GCSEs are examined via the Edexcel (2026) specification.
A Levels are examined via the AQA specification.
Home Learning and Assessment
Assessments will take place each term and all four skills will be assessed at several points through the year to represent the 25% split in the skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing.
Homework tasks at KS3 and 4 vary depending on the key stage but can include:
- grammar worksheets
- MS quizzes
- research and projects
- revision
Homework tasks are scheduled in line with the school’s Homework Policy and can also be found in the schemes of work in students’ knowledge organisers (blue column).
Encouraging Literacy and Wider Reading
As part of the whole school approach to literacy, students in Y7/8 access a Read First text at the start of each topic which aims to broaden their understanding of culture in the Francophone and Hispanic worlds.
We promote literacy in lessons through the explicit teaching of grammar terminology and Tier 2/3 vocabulary. Exam style dictation tasks also support students’ development of literacy.
The department has a number of short story books, written in English and the target language that students can borrow. We also promote the use of the school library and have a full reading list for A-Level, with copies of many texts available to borrow. The department actively encourages students to engage with podcasts and music to further develop their aural literacy in the target language
EAL and World/Home and Wider Reading
The Languages Department actively encourages those who speak a Language other than English at home to extend their knowledge and, if sufficiently accurate in written and spoken use of the language, to seek accreditation for this. We will actively support entry for GCSE or A-level in these languages
Please contact our EAL co-ordinator Mr Kennedy for more information: jkennedy@nsbtrust.school
