NEW GCSE Modern Foreign languages Curriculum Information

Yr9 to Yr11 2015-2018

  • 3.2 exam data from yr8is used as annual starting point bench-mark for the start of the GCSE course in Yr9, and students continue to work along their individual 5 year flight-path
  • The new GCSE will be covered during a 3-year KS4
  • Expected progress by the end of each year will be 2 sub-levels from their starting point
  • The new AQA GCSE comprises 3 themes; 1 theme delivered per academic year during yr9, yr10 and yr11:
  • Identity and culture
  • Local, national, international and global areas of interest
  • Current and future study and employment
  • The new GCSE is 100% examination in the 4 skill areas of listening, listening, writing and speaking; students are no longer required to complete ANY controlled assessment
  • Students MUST enter all four units at the same tier of entry; F or H
  • The writing paper will require students to complete extended writing tasks of 90 words (F) and 90 words and 150 words (H)
  • Each theme is broken down into 3 units, each unit lasting 1 term. The thematic content and linguistic structures will be delivered during the first half of each term, with the second half-term dedicated to the completion of exam skill activities and exam-style questions relating to that term’s content
  • Exam skills and question styles that will be delivered during the second half of each term include:
  • Translation TL – English (reading paper)
  • Translation English – TL (writing paper)
  • Responding to a picture (speaking / writing)
  • Q and A in English – reading comprehension
  • Q and A in TL – reading / speaking / writing
  • Multiple choice questions in English / TL
  • Role plays
  • TL rubrics
  • Cloze texts
  • Dictation
  • Make a list…
  • Opinions with complex / multiple reasons
  • Essential verb structures / tenses
  • Write / say 100 words about…
  • Assessment takes place every 8 weeks, in line with the school reporting cycle, in the form of examinations which mirror the length, style and marking criteria for the new AQA MFL GCSE examinations
  • There are 2 whole-school examination weeks during the academic year; one in January and the other in June

Expected progress over year 9 is as follows:

Flight Path / Baseline Yr9 GCSE Level
September 2015 / Expected GCSE Level
End of Year 9 June 2016
Flight Path 3 / +4 / = 5
Flight Path 2 / +3 / = 4
Flight Path 1 / +2 / = 3
Year 9 Expected Flight Path
NEW GCSE LEVELS 2015-18
= 5 / x / x
- 5 / x / x
+ 4 / x
= 4 / x / x
- 4 / x / x
+ 3 / x
= 3 / x / x
- 3 / x / x
+ 2 / x
ReportingPeriod 1 / Jan Exam ReportingPeriod 2 / ReportingPeriod 3 / ReportingPeriod 4 / End of Year 9 Exam Reporting Period 5

Expected progress over year 10 is as follows:

Flight Path / Baseline Yr10 GCSE Level
September 2016 / Expected GCSE Level
End of Year 10 June 2017
Flight Path 3 / = 5 / -6
Flight Path 2 / = 4 / -5
Flight Path 1 / = 3 / -4
Year 10 Expected Flight Path
NEW GCSE LEVELS 2015-18
- 6 / x / x
+ 5 / x / x
= 5 / x
- 5 / x / x
+ 4 / x / x
= 4 / x
- 4 / x / x
+ 3 / x / x
= 3 / x
ReportingPeriod 1 / Jan Exam ReportingPeriod 2 / ReportingPeriod 3 / ReportingPeriod 4 / End of Year 10 Exam Reporting Period 5

Expected progress over year 11 is as follows:

Flight Path / Baseline Yr11 GCSE Level
September 2017 / Expected Final GCSE Level
June 2018
Flight Path 3 / -6 / +6
Flight Path 2 / -5 / +5
Flight Path 1 / -4 / +4
Year 7 - Year11: Expected Flight Paths
NEW GCSE LEVELS / + 9
= 9
- 9
+ 8
= 8
- 8
+ 7
= 7 / x (OP)
- 7
+ 6 / x (OP) / x (GP)
= 6 / x (GP) / x (OP)
- 6 / x
+ 5 / x (OP) / x (GP)
= 5 / x / x (GP) / x (GP)
- 5 / x
+ 4 / x / x (OP) / x (GP)
= 4 / x / x (GP)
- 4 / x / x
+ 3 / x
= 3 / x / x
- 3 / x
+ 2 / x
= 2 / x
- 2 / x
+ 1
= 1 / x
- 1
BL Assmt Yr7 / End of Yr7 / End of Yr8 / End of Yr9 / End of Yr10 / Jan Mock Yr11 / End of Yr11

SMSC opportunities presented throughout GCSE course, namely:

  • Marriage – for and against
  • TL film, poetry and short stories
  • Food and eating out in TL-speaking countries
  • Customs and festivals in TL-speaking countries such as:
  • French: Tour de France / 14 Juillet / French Revolution / Canne film festival / French artists
  • Spanish: La Tomatina / Pamplona bullrun / Día de los Muertes / Spanishartists
  • Life in TL-speaking schools
  • Social issues – unemployment, poverty and homelessness in TL-speaking countries
  • The environment and natural disasters and their effects