Modern Foreign Languages
Welcome to the MFL Department. We believe that learning a foreign language can help students build confidence with their speaking skills, support literacy through increased understanding of grammar and provide students with a competitive edge with college and careers choices. Most importantly, we believe the ability to learn a language is a crucial skill in today's increasingly international world.
To support this, we also recognise the importance of developing cultural and international understanding. Our themes and topics are rooted in students' own experiences and interests such as sport, leisure time and future careers. At the same time, we introduce them to cultural features of the countries that they are studying.
Our aim is to ensure that learners of all abilities have the opportunity to be open-minded global citizens who can reach their potential. Our pupils will be confident to travel, using the transactional language and cultural understanding that they have developed.
Our pupils will develop problem-solving skills that will enable them to deduce the meaning of something unknown or find another way to express themselves using the knowledge that they have.
Our pupils will be ready for the next step in their language learning journey, should they choose to continue post GCSE.
All of our pupils will leave us having learned not only a new language but with the skills to learn another language of their choice in the future.
Languages Beyond the classroom
We offer a range of extra-curricular activities such as trips, languages clubs, art events and celebration of European Day of Languages further encourage our students to engage with language learning and celebrate culture and diversity.
We have a cultural exchange programme with Freies Christliches Gymnasium, our partner school in Germany. All pupils are invited to join in our joint activities whether that is by taking part in trips or in the in school activities, such as online meetings. Read about our trip to Germany in Sails and Oars.
Your Language Learning Journey at Stockport School
The MFL department is in a period of transition. Pupils joining us from September 2021 will sit their MFL GCSE in year 10 which will now allow them a wider option choice when pupils complete the options process in year 9. To accommodate this, pupils will receive increased curriculum time for MFL during KS3.
The GCSE exams are also changing for MFL with the first examinations for the new specification taking place in 2026. Pupils joining us from 2022 will complete the new style examinations.
At GCSE, we currently follow the AQA specification in order to provide a broad understanding of the culture, countries and communities where French, German and Spanish are spoken. For the new GCSE we will be moving to Edexcel.
The MFL team are working to redevelop the curriculum to support pupils who will sit the current legacy GCSE in year 10 and the new GCSE. The curriculum plans below outline the learning journey taken by our pupils. As we redevelop our curriculum model there may be variations. If you have any questions about what your child is currently studying in MFL, please contact their class teacher.
French
German
Spanish
The MFL Team
Lead Practitioner of MFL
Director of Study
Assistant Director of Study
Mr N Pattison (Head of Spanish)
Teachers
Mr D Tipler (French and German)
Mr J Miller (French and German)
Mrs S Lyon (French)
Mrs R Glass (French)
Ms A Jourde (French and Spanish)
Prince's Teaching Institute
The MFL department at Stockport School is linked to the Prince's Teaching Institute and has achieved their Subject Leadership Certificate. This enables us to link with other MFL departments through training opportunities and networking, supporting the development of new ideas and approaches to learning MFL.
The School has been awarded the PTI Mark for Modern Languages