In the MFL department, we believe that we live in a world where everybody should acquire at least another language apart from their own mother tongue.

Contrary to the universal cliché that ‘everybody speaks English so why should we bother ‘, research shows that only a fraction of the global poulation speaks English.
Therefore, in an increasingly multi-cultural world and in the face of intense economic competition, we like to give the girls what we consider to be an essential life-skill.

Consequently, the MFL department aims to:

• Foster a love of languages
• Enable students to communicate effectively in one or 2 languages
• Develop an undestanding  and tolerance of foreign cultures

The MFL department is housed in a suite of 6 rooms , and the facilities have been greatly enhanced by years of generous Language College funding, so extensive ICT facilities and a Language Laboratory also help teaching and learning.

All girls study one language in Y7 out of French, German, Spanish or Japanese. In y8, girls study a second language out of French, German and Spanish.

All girls have to study one language to GCSE and many choose to study 2. Indeed, they are strongly encouraged to do so.

In KS4 and KS5, students are ably supported by Foreign Language Assistantes who are all native speakers .KS5 students enjoy one-to-one sessions to practise their speaking skill.

In addition to European Languages and Japanese, we run a programme of lunchtime or after-school lessons in Community Languages such as Punjabi, Gujurati and Urdu.

Teaching and Learning in MFL is also supported by a very popular programme of end-of-year residential 5-day trips to France, Germany and Spain for y8 which we expect all students to take part in.

We also run successful exchange schemes with Germany and Japan and encourage Sixth-formers to go on work experience abroad, in order to support their studies and develop their confidence.

Throughout the academic year, we take part in national language competitions and any event designed to reinforce the cultural aspects of learning languages.