Modern Foreign Languages

AIMS

All pupils at Bedford Free School study French and Spanish at Key Stage 3 and continue with one of these at GCSE in Year 10 and 11. Thanks to new technology and improved travel and communications, the world has become a much smaller place. It is crucial; therefore, that we learn to speak and understand each other, which can only be done effectively by learning other languages and appreciating associated cultures.

The Key Stage 3 and GCSE courses in French and Spanish facilitates this with a focus on practical communication skills and adding an international dimension to the curriculum at Bedford Free School. In addition, the cultural literacy associated with learning a Latin-based foreign language has immeasurable benefits to pupils’ cultural literacy and grammar.

KS3 French and Spanish

Pupils begin studying Spanish in Year 7. In Year 8, most pupils start learning French as well as continuing to study Spanish. In Year 9, pupils continue to study both languages. During the French and Spanish KS3 courses pupils study the vocabulary, grammar and structures required to talk, write, read and understand the themes of Identity and Culture, Local, National, International and Global Areas of Interest and Current and Future Study and Employment. Through the study of these themes, the courses encourage the pupils to express themselves including their likes, dislikes, ideas and opinions.

KS4 French and Spanish

Year 10 (Edexcel, first exams in 2026)

All pupils at Bedford Free School study either French or Spanish at GCSE. These are multi-skill GCSEs involving the development of the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing and they are based around the following thematic contexts:

• My personal word
• Lifestyle and wellbeing
• My neighbourhood
• Media and technology
• Studying and my future
• Travel and tourism

Through the study of these themes, the course encourages the pupils to express themselves including their likes, dislikes, ideas and opinions as at KS3. In addition, the course also builds on their learning at Key Stage 3 and introduces them to a wider range of language, structures and vocabulary. They learn to recognise these and to apply their new knowledge to different contexts.

Learning French and Spanish also helps them to develop skills that will be extremely useful to them in the future, as it enables them to develop their confidence and ability to communicate with people from other French and Spanish-speaking countries and cultures. The GCSE French course is assessed with an examination in each of the four skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking) at the same tier at the end of Year 11. All of the skills are equally weighted and worth 25% each.

Year 11 (AQA, final exams in 2025)

All pupils at Bedford Free School study either French or Spanish at GCSE. These are multi-skill GCSEs involving the development of the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing and they are based around the themes of:

• Theme 1: Identity and Culture
• Theme 2: Local, National, International and Global Areas of Interest
• Theme 3: Current and Future Study and Employment

Through the study of these themes, the course encourages the pupils to express themselves including their likes, dislikes, ideas and opinions as at KS3. In addition, the course also builds on their learning at Key Stage 3 and introduces them to a wider range of language, structures and vocabulary. They learn to recognise these and to apply their new knowledge to different contexts.

Learning French and Spanish also helps them to develop skills that will be extremely useful to them in the future, as it enables them to develop their confidence and ability to communicate with people from other French and Spanish-speaking countries and cultures. The GCSE French course is assessed with an examination in each of the four skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking) at the same tier at the end of Year 11. All of the skills are equally weighted and worth 25% each.