Modern Languages

French and German are both taught across all three Key stages at Queen Elizabeth’s. Year 7 students begin with French and German is added to their curriculum in Year 8. In both cases the pupils are set into ability groups after the first term. It is compulsory for all pupils to take a Modern Foreign Language at KS4 and several choose to take both French and German to GCSE. Both languages have an excellent academic record at QE, at both GCSE and A-level and languages are an increasingly popular option in the Sixth Form. AQA examinations are taken at GCSE and the EdExcel examination board is used at Advanced level.

The Languages department currently consists of eight members of staff who teach in a suite of rooms located near each other, with a newly-refurbished language laboratory. These rooms are all in close proximity to the Languages stock room and office, where each teacher has his or her own dedicated work space. Teachers also have their own laptops. We are a close-knit department who work as a team, sharing new ideas and supporting each other. Professional development of staff is a priority and is carried out with in-house training and by attending courses run by providers both locally and in the target language countries. Peer observation is also positively encouraged at Queen Elizabeth's School.

We have a wide range of resources, including specialist computer software, televisions and videos, which are used by all department members, as well as a large book stock. We are making increasing use of interactive whiteboard technology and each of our classrooms has a SMART board. Students are encouraged to use ICT, including study on the Internet and creating presentations. There is a Languages area on the School’s Intranet, which boys are encouraged to use to support their learning.

Trips offered by the department include a:

• Year 7, 8 and 10 six day visit to Château de la Baudonnière, Normandy
• Year 8 five-day visit to the Rhineland
• Year 9 exchange to with one of our partner schools in Rouen
• Year 9/10 exchange with one of our partner schools in Bielefeld
• GCSE and A-level study days in London
• Year 12 /13 study trip to Berlin or Munich
• Year 12 work experience exchange in Aachen, where students stay with families from our partner school and do valuable work experience at workplaces including hospitals, banks and law firms. 

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