Curriculum Intent
Our Curriculum Intent outlines the knowledge, skills and characteristics we want children to develop and learn throughout their time with us.
At Watling Primary School, our Modern Foreign Language of choice is Spanish. Many secondary schools offer Spanish as an option and our early teaching of this language gives our children an excellent start to the next phase of their educational journey.
We believe in providing our pupils with a holistic and active education that prepares them for the globalised world they will navigate in the future. Our intent for teaching Spanish is rooted in fostering a deep appreciation for linguistic diversity, cultural understanding and wide-ranging communication skills.
We are privileged to be part of a richly diverse school community, where we include everyone and celebrate individuality. This provides us with opportunities to introduce our pupils to a variety of languages, traditions and perspectives. By learning about other cultures, we will develop open minded, accepting and inclusive members of our global community. The study of a modern foreign language enhances this further.
In the teaching of Spanish, we focus on promoting effective communication skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Through engaging activities, interactive lessons and team role-play scenarios, we strive to nurture confident and articulate Spanish speakers.
Research tells us that learning a foreign language enhances cognitive abilities such as problem-solving, creativity and critical thinking – characteristics which Watling Primary School consistently promotes throughout an aspirational curriculum.
Delivering a comprehensive and ambitious modern foreign language curriculum in Key Stage 2 will equip Watling Primary pupils with not only language proficiency, but also with the cultural competence and communication skills essential for success in an interconnected world.
Curriculum Implementation
Our Curriculum Implementation explains what we will do and how we will do it, to ensure that children learn and achieve what we intend them to.
- Six distinct units taught during the academic year, following the Language Angels scheme.
- Timetabled 30 minute lesson in Year 3 to Year 6 each week.
- Lessons planned using progression maps and curriculum end points.
- Lesson objectives linked to Watling Way values and CAPTAIN Learning Characteristics.
- High-quality resources used to enhance lessons.
- Access to Modern Foreign Languages Knowledge Organisers.
- Opportunities to attend extra-curricular foreign language clubs throughout the academic year.
- Special events to recognise and celebrate the diversity of languages and cultures represented in our school community.
Curriculum Impact
The impact of the implementation of our Modern Foreign Languages curriculum on outcomes for our children is monitored and evaluated at key points in the learning journey through the following methods:
- Formative and summative assessment strategies in line with our Feedback and Marking statement, including questioning and verbal feedback, ‘on the spot’ highlighting or annotations in line with our marking code, and end of unit mini assessments
- Book looks
- Pupil voice
- Learning walks and lesson visits
- Termly Subject Lead monitoring meetings
- Analysis of MFL MAPs (Monitoring Attainment and Progress spreadsheets)
The National Curriculum Programme of Study for Modern Foreign Languages for Key Stage 2 provides further information.
Our Long-Term Curriculum Map for Spanish gives an overview of what is taught in each year group over the course of each academic year.
