Spanish
Departmental Staff
- Head of Department:Miss L.Mulholland
- Miss R.Moore
- Mrs A.Neeson
- Miss C.Bernard
- Miss J.Connolly
Curriculum
Key Stage 3 (Years 8,9 & 10)
Key Stage 3 Subject Information
Year 8 – Students are given a “taster” of the following topics
- Greetings
- In the classroom
- Colours
- Numbers
- Days of the week, months of the year and seasons
- The weather
- Describing myself and others
- Family
- School
- At home
- In the town and directions
- Food and drink
Year 9 – Students build upon language acquired in Year 8 and the following Units are studied in greater detail
- ¡Bienvenidos! – Welcome
- Tú y Yo – You and I
- ¡ Vamos al instituto! – School
- En casa – At home
- Mi pueblo – My town
- El tiempo libre – My free time
Year 10 – Students build upon language acquired in Year 8&9 and the following Units are studied
- Nos presentamos – Making introductions
- La comida – Food and drink/Healthy living
- De compras – Going shopping
- El turismo – Tourism
- ¡Diviértete! – Going out
- La salud – Heath and well being
Aspects of Spanish and Latin American culture are interspersed throughout Key Stage 3&4 along with relevant grammar points as they naturally occur in the topic areas.
Key Stage 4 Subject Information (GCSE Years 11 &12)
We follow the CCEA Specification for GCSE
The current GCSE course consists of 3 contexts and the students study the following over the two year course.
Context 1 – The individual
Relationships: families and friends;
- Local environment: advantages and disadvantages;
- Activities: daily routine and leisure activities; and
- Health and lifestyle: diet, exercise and illness.
Context 2 – Citizenship
Social issues: problems in society and equality;
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- Travel and tourism: destinations and choices;
- Environmental issues: attitudes to and responsibilities for
litter, transport, energy, conservation and recycling; - Media and communications; and
- Celebrations: festivals and customs.
Context 3 – Employability
School life;
- Part-time jobs: advantages and disadvantages; and
- Future plans: choices and expectations.
The students are assessed in the following way
Unit 1 – Speaking Controlled Assessment 30%
(Internally assessed, two tasks are submitted for moderation)
Unit 2 – Writing Controlled Assessment 30%
(Externally assessed, two tasks are submitted for marking)
Unit 3 – Listening Examination 20%
Unit 4 – Reading Examination 20%
Listening and Reading are tiered – Candidates can be either entered for Higher Tier or Foundation Tier. Speaking and Writing are Untiered.
From September 2017 students who commence the two year GCSE Spanish course will follow the Revised CCEA Specification – this will be Linear, which means that there will be no elements of Controlled Assessment. All four skills mentioned above will be assessed at the end of Year 12 and are all equally weighted.
Speaking – Oral exam 25% (One exam which will consist of two role plays and a conversation)
Listening – Exam Paper 25% (Foundation or Higher)
Reading – Exam Paper 25% (Foundation or Higher)
Writing – Exam Paper 25% (Foundation or Higher)
The students will study the same contexts (subject to minor changes)
Post 16 Subject Information (GCE Years 13 &14)
We follow the CCEA Specification for GCE
The GCE course consists of four Units, 2 Units at AS level and 2 Units at A2 level
AS Level
- Relationships
- Culture and Lifestyle
Students also have the opportunity to study a film or a literary text at AS level.
The students are assessed in the following way
AS 1 Speaking Exam 30% (12% A Level)
AS 2 Listening/Reading/ Use of Language Paper 40% (16% A Level)
AS 3 Extended Writing Paper 30% (12% A Level)
A total of 40% A Level
A2 Level
- Young People & Society
- Our Place in a Changing World
Students also have the opportunity to study a literary text and either a cultural aspect, a historical period or region at A2 level.
The students are assessed in the following way:
A2 1 Speaking 18% of A Level
AS 2 Listening and Reading Paper 24% of A Level
A2 3 Extended Writing Paper 18% of A Level
A total of 60% A Level
Click below for more information on why to choose Spanish for A Level
