Languages

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Introduction

At Hamstead Hall Academy, we take Languages very seriously. From Ancient to Modern Languages, we pride ourselves in offering as broad a choice as possible. French, Spanish and Panjabi are the three main Modern Foreign Languages we offer. These can be taken up to A-level. Mandarin Chinese is also available as an enrichment activity. Latin is also offered from Year 7 for selected students (approximately 60 pupils every year) and can be taken up to GCSE. Our latest offer is Ancient Greek, which students can learn in a weekly club. Our team is very enthusiastic and firmly believe languages really do matter and really do make a difference in a student’s future.

-Head of Languages

Partner School Status

It is an exciting time to be a students in the MFL department at Hamstead Hall Academy as we are a Partner School with the Trent and Tame Language Hub, one of fifteen in the country!

NCLE believe that knowledge of languages and intercultural agility can help to foster universal understanding and contribute to building a peaceful and harmonious world future. The 15 Language Hubs across England are tasked with re-energising language learning in state-maintained primary and secondary schools across England. Building on the recommendations from the 2016 Language Pedagogy Review, Language Hubs will explore:
• What high quality language teaching in schools looks like
• How to increase languages uptake at GCSE
• Strategies to provide levelling up opportunities for disadvantaged pupil and to improve the performance of boys Language Hubs will also support schools in their region to celebrate ALL languages and will signpost supporting materials, good practice and build relationships with supplementary schools

As a designated partner school to the Trent and Tame Language Hub, over the next 3 years, MFL teachers at Hamstead Hall Academy will work alongside other partner schools to:
1. Identify areas of best practice to share with the wider network
2. Share evidence-informed approaches to language teaching with a focus on:
• improving attainment at GCSE,
• increasing uptake in KS4 and / or KS5
• developing intrinsic motivation for learning
• Exploring oracy in the Language classroom
3. Develop a comprehensive action plan to support a mutually agreed area for development.
4. Receive CPD, coaching and ongoing support to implement and assess the impact of the action plan.
5. Establish a sustainable and local network of language teachers and leaders focused on developing provision and outcomes for learners.

Curriculum Intent and Vision

Our curriculum is one of ‘success for all through hard work and harmony’, promoting the values of pride, persistence, patience, preparation, and progress.

The Languages curriculum at HHA is broad and balanced. In addition to the traditionally offered Modern Languages we also give a large number of students opportunities to study rarely taught languages in the state sector, such as Latin.

The Languages curriculum is developed and planned carefully to ensure progression in complexity from Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 5.  Our aim is to expose pupils to a broad and ambitious curriculum which is rich in skills and knowledge and encourages curiosity and promotes diversity and tolerance of other cultures. 

In Modern Languages, we ensure students develop a thorough knowledge of the language they learn, in all 4 assessment skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking). Grammar is embedded in our curriculum and we emphasise the study of phonics to develop pupils’ pronunciation.

In Latin, pupils steadily build on grammatical concepts they learn from the outset. We embed the study of sources, both literary and historical in lessons, so that students are well equipped when studying Latin literature and Roman civilisation at KS4. The Latin curriculum helps students use the ancient world to better understand the world they live in today.

Expectations of learners are high.  Assessments are planned following the sequencing of the curriculum maps. Barriers to learning and achievement are anticipated and removed wherever possible. 

The unique aspect and strength of the Hamstead Hall community is its linguistic diversity. As a department we embrace the fact that many of our learners are bilingual.  This skill is used to continue to raise the profile and value of being able to speak another language. 

Language learners at Hamstead Hall Academy are encouraged to take pride in their work, to persist in achieving their potential, to be patient and to be prepared to ensure they make good progress.

We strongly uphold “success for all through hard work and harmony”.

Language Enrichment Activities

Classics

We are very proud to have added classical subjects in our offer of languages at Hamstead Hall Academy.

This has been made possible by the very generous support of Classics For All, The Roman Society, Cambridge Schools Classics Project and the Birmingham and Midlands Classical Association. These organisations have helped with teacher training and the purchase of high quality resources.

Latin

Latin now forms an integral part of the Languages curriculum at Hamstead Hall Academy.

Around 180 students now study Latin and Roman civilisation at KS3 and the subject is also offered at GCSE level. We follow the De Romanis course book at KS3 and the Latin to GCSE course, both published by Bloomsbury. In Year 8, students prepare the OCR Entry Level Certificate in Latin and in Year 9 the WJEC Level 1 Certificate in Latin Language. At GCSE, we follow the WJEC Eduqas specification. The aim is to enthuse students in discovering not only the language but also the civilisation and literature of Ancient Romans.

Classical Greek

Classical Greek is offered as an enrichment activity.

We follow the course published by Classics for All, ‘Basil Batrakhos’, which introduces students to the basics of the classical Greek alphabet as well as some mythological tales from Ancient Greece. After, we move to a more demanding course, delving deeper into the language and start discovering adapted texts by Ancient Greek authors.

Mandarin

Pupils at HHA have the opportunity to attend a weekly Mandarin Club.

Mr Gicquel spent a total of six weeks in China on an intensive course to enable him to teach beginners’ Chinese. The course was generously funded by Hanban (the Chinese equivalent to the British Council) which works to promote Mandarin teaching and learning outside China. Mr Gicquel also sat GCSE and the Chinese Proficiency exam in Shanghai. In the club, pupils are introduced to the basic principles of Mandarin, the tones and the complex writing system. They learn numbers, how to talk about themselves, their likes and dislikes, family and pets, nationalities…

They also learn facts about Chinese culture, customs and traditions.