Modern Foreign Languages

  • Intent

     At St Mary and St John Catholic Primary School, we believe that a high-quality

    languages education should foster pupils’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world. The teaching should enable pupils to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to respond to its speakers, both in speech and in writing. It should also provide opportunities for them to communicate for practical purposes, learn new ways of thinking and read texts in the original language. Language teaching should provide the foundation for learning further languages, equipping pupils to study and work in other

    countries.

  • Implemention

    • At St Mary and St John Catholic Primary School, Spanish is currently taught across both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.


    • Planning is informed by and aligned with the National Curriculum.


    • Pupils from Year 1 to Year 6 receive between 30 and 60 minutes of direct teaching each week and this is principally delivered in the form of oral and aural work, songs and games. In addition, pupils in Key Stage 2 complete reading and writing exercises. Collectively, this therefore provides pupils with not just the 4 basic skills required for learning a language but also a depth in their learning and a realistic concept for a long-term learning experience in languages. 


    • Regular work is completed throughout the year in Languages/Topic books

    in all classes, which in turn measures pupils’ progression.


    • Pupils are taught about the Spanish culture not just in Europe but in Latin American Society and are positively encouraged to share their own knowledge and experiences.


  • Impact

    • At St Mary and St John Catholic Primary School, languages are assessed formatively by the languages teacher and planning is amended to support need. 


    • Pupils thoroughly enjoy their languages lessons and talk highly of their experiences. 


    • Pupils are well-equipped to continue languages as they move on to High

    School. 


    • Both French and Spanish after-school classes are offered weekly for those pupils who wish to supplement their class learning

  • Aspirations

    We strive to instil creativity in all our children and feel confident that our new Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 langauges curriculums will teach children not only the necessary skills to become great linguists but also to establish a lifelong appreciation of other languages and cultures.

Meet The Subject Coordinator

Miss Hynes
MFL Coordinator

My passion/ personal experience with MFL


My linguistic journey started in Primary School when my interest in language learning was sparked by 2 factors; the first being when my mum went on a day trip to France and bought me a French book as a present and the second involved being a host family to my older sister’s foreign exchange student from France. I then started to learn French in High School and when I realised that I had the option to learn Spanish as well, I grasped the opportunity with both hands as I knew then that I had a passion for languages! I am a Languages graduate and my language learning journey has included industrial work placements in both France and Spain as well as a British Council English Language Assistantship in a High School in northern Spain.


Experiences in Our School


We learn Spanish in both KS1 and KS2 and French is introduced in the Summer Term in Years 5 and 6, in preparation for High School. In KS1 we learn Spanish through speaking and listening activities and we thoroughly enjoy participating in conversations, singing and playing games. In KS2, phonics, grammar and vocabulary form the key ‘pillars’ that support language learning and in addition to speaking and listening, we begin to develop our reading and writing skills, as well as exploring celebrated, cultural events. In recent years, we have had the opportunity to take part in Spanish and French after-school clubs, where pupils have enjoyed additional learning experiences, including arts and crafts and sampling food and drink. 


Hopes and Goals in Music


I hope to continue to make languages accessible to pupils in KS1 and KS2, enabling them to create and develop their language skills and to provide aspirational learning for the future, including High School and beyond. I also aim to ensure that their learning experiences are exciting, rewarding and memorable! My goal is to inspire confidence in pupils in their language learning by encouraging them to use their linguistic skills and knowledge both inside and outside the classroom.


 “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.” - Nelson Mandela.