Latest News: MFL

Modern Foreign Languages

Intent: The Big Ideas in Modern Foreign Languages at Atherton High School

To create aspirational lifelong linguists through an engaging, challenging, knowledge and culturally rich curriculum.

The big ideas in MFL at Atherton High are to ensure that pupils are able linguists who can use transferable skills and knowledge to manipulate whichever language they are learning. We also want to promote an aspirational curriculum by creating the opportunity for pupils to study both Spanish and French. We look to promote a love of learning within the subject, through ensuring that pupils are knowledge and vocabulary rich, so that they have good foundations when they come to use the language across the attainment skills that we teach (Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing). Pupils are challenged in Languages at Atherton High through the constant exposure to new grammar, such as being able to use 3 tenses successfully to support their communication, so that they speak with confidence and greater fluency. It will also support their writing by applying the variety of grammar learnt; and continually developing their level of vocabulary. Pupils will cover a range of themes and topics of study throughout their time learning Languages at Atherton High School. Topics will include areas such as:

• People and lifestyle – Identity and relationships with others, healthy living, education and work.
• Popular culture – Free-time activities, customs, festivals and celebrations, celebrity culture.
• Communication and the world around us – Travel and tourism, media and technology, the environment and where people live.

Within the languages department, we constantly develop cultural capital, exposing pupils to not only the culture of the Spanish and French speaking worlds by studying festivals such as Día de Los Muertos and Bastille Day, but also increasing the cultural knowledge of their own country through constant comparison. Pupils also study a variety of authentic sources, such as film and literary texts. Pupils will watch films and read texts, stories and or poems in the target language.

 How the Modern Foreign Languages curriculum contributes to the school’s curriculum intent.

Our curriculum supports students from all backgrounds, including those who are disadvantaged, so students can access a high-quality, knowledge-rich curriculum. Our school community believes strongly in providing disadvantaged pupils with a curriculum that enables them to reach the academic standards of their non-disadvantaged peers. Our goal is to bring our young people into the big conversations of our disciplines, to bring depth to our curriculum, so they can understand the world around them.

1. Knowledge – Knowledge is at the heart of every scheme of learning. Knowledge is developed about the language and the skills needed to be able to successfully build upon the language. Knowledge will be developed through allowing the pupils to learn how to form tenses, how to make adjectives agree, look at the correct word order and fully ensure that they can converse as securely as possible in the language.
2. Vocabulary rich – We have selected a challenging list of vocabulary, to enrich learning and deepen subject understanding, vocabulary is thread through the language’s curriculum, allowing pupils to become more fluent in their use of the language and to also strengthen their knowledge. Vocabulary development will allow the pupils to become more confident and strengthen their knowledge and understanding of key vocabulary in their own language as well as Spanish/French.
3. Aspiration – through a knowledge rich ambitious curriculum pupils are encouraged to use the language as much as possible. The curriculum offers both Spanish and French, allowing the pupils to aspire to become dual linguists. The curriculum allows for aspiration to also be built by allowing pupils the opportunity to take part in trips to the countries of study and use their language skills in a real cultural situation.
4. Character building –through teamwork and group work within lessons in AHS. Group learning will allow the pupils to use their language skills comfortably in front of their peers and allow them to build up relationships and develop their character in different settings. In languages, we are constantly linking to the CEAIG opportunities that languages can offer and explain how using a language gives more interpersonal skills for the pupils to communicate not only in the target language, but in English also. Pupils are given the exposure to topics such as environmental and social issues, and how to support these, linking to their personal development.
5. Love learning –as passionate teachers of MFL, the curriculum allows us to share our love of the subject with our pupils at AHS. Pupils will be taking part in engaging MFL lessons that allow them to be inquisitive and develop their cultural knowledge and understanding of the curriculum, as well as developing their knowledge of how to speak in the target language. Pupils will have the opportunities to visit the countries of the languages that we study in school, to further give them the opportunity to develop their language skill and passion for the subject.

Reading in Modern Foreign Languages

In MFL, reading and vocabulary forms a substantial part of the curriculum. Pupils are constantly exposed to new vocabulary that allows them to develop their knowledge of language and become more confident in being able to apply this in their work. Reading is used daily; pupils will be exposed to texts in lessons that allow them to identify any previously taught vocabulary. Furthermore, pupils are also exposed to authentic literary texts such as Le Petit Prince and Spanish poetry, to allow them to further develop their love of Languages, reading and have the cultural exposure to texts from other countries.

Learning Beyond the Classroom in Modern Foreign Languages

On the 30^th June – 3^rd July 2025, 31 students and 4 staff took part in an overseas residential to a very hot and very sunny Barcelona. The trip was a huge success, and pupils took part in a range of cultural visits throughout the 4 days on the trip.

Day 1 started with an early get up for an 8am flight to Barcelona. Upon arrival, pupils experienced Spanish culture firsthand at the famous La Boquería food market, where they were able to sample local delicacies and order their food in Spanish. Pupils walked through the city, looking at the amazing architecture of Antoni Gaudí, and made their way down Las Ramblas, to Port Vell for a visit to Barcelona Aquarium. Pupils thoroughly enjoyed the aquarium and lots of photographs and souvenirs were bought to remember the visit. Day 1 concluded with a visit to a local restaurant for an evening meal and a trip back to the hotel on the Barcelona metro, which was a first for many of the pupils.

Day 2 began with a lovely morning breakfast at the hotel and a leisurely walk to the breathtaking La Sagrada Familia, one of Antoni Gaudi’s most famous designs. Pupils were given a detailed guided tour of the famous Basílica and were in awe of the amazing design. Following this, pupils had lunch in Parque de La Ciutadella, followed by a visit to the Museo Picasso. Here, pupils were able to look at the amazing pieces of work produced by Picasso and understand how his work developed over time. Then it was time for the beach, pupils and staff soaked up the Spanish sunshine at Barceloneta beach, dipping their feet in the water or playing football in the sand, pupils had a fantastic time. To finish the evening, pupils had a great meal at the Hard Rock Café, followed by some late-night souvenir shopping on Las Ramblas and El Passeig de Gràcia.

Day 3, the day that some aspiring young footballers, had the chance to explore the home of Barcelona FC, the Camp Nou. Pupils had time to explore the immersive Camp Nou Museum, reading and learning all about their favourite players, both past and present, and then spending most of their money in the Barcelona club shop. A great time was had by all. Next in the day 3 itinerary was a visit to the stunning Parc Güell, another of Gaudí’s most famous designs. Pupils saw the famous mosaic gecko, a staple of Spain and the gingerbread houses that welcome people to the park. The final stop on the trip was Poble Espanyol, for an authentic tapas meal to finish the trip. Some pupils stepped out of their comfort zones and sampled authentic Spanish tapas such as calamari, for the first time.

Day 4, after a jam packed 3 full days in sunny Barcelona, it was time for home, pupils and staff packed up for a 12:30 flight back to Manchester, to catch up with family and friends and tell them all about the experience and share the memories that they made.