Curriculum

Modern Foreign Languages

Subject Vision and Intent

To learn a language is to have one more window from which to look at the world

(Chinese Proverb)

Starting from September 2026, all pupils in Year 7 will be taught either French or Urdu. 

In the Modern Foreign Languages faculty, it is celebrated that every pupil is a successful language learner in at least one language and the teaching develops pupils’ skills from this point of view. A Modern Foreign Language is offered to all pupils in Key Stage 3 and in Key Stage 4 where it is an essential requirement of the EBACC.  

Pupils develop essential learning, literacy, and communication skills, which they can use to make connections with other subject areas. Pupils can use these skills to continue learning the same language at a higher level and learn new languages. Learning a language is a way to open new gateways into the world, build awareness of other cultures and raise pupils’ self-esteem.    

During MFL lessons, our pupils will gain systematic knowledge of key vocabulary and structures, grammar and phonics of the new language and a better understanding of how these are used by native speakers. We promote independent learning via knowledge organisers as we want to develop confident and independent pupils who are not afraid to communicate in a different language. 

 

Theatre in Education

To support our pupils with languages, we promote and expose our pupils to theatrical cultural capital. Currently, we have Onatti Productions theatre group visiting our school this year performing the Languages play.

 

 

Key Stage 4 

GCSE: French and Urdu 

 Exam Board   AQA 

 Examinations 

 GCSE French, Spanish and Urdu consists of four papers: 

 Paper 1 – Listening 

  •  Written exam, 35 minutes (Foundation Tier), 45 minutes (Higher Tier) 

 Paper 2 – Speaking 

  •  Non-exam assessment, 7–9 minutes (Foundation Tier) + preparation time or 10–12 minutes (Higher Tier) + preparation time 

 Paper 3 – Reading 

  •  Written exam: 45 minutes (Foundation Tier), 1 hour (Higher Tier) 

 Paper 4 – Writing 

  •  Written exam: 1 hour (Foundation Tier), 1 hour 15 minutes (Higher Tier) 

Key Topics 

  •  Theme 1: Identity and culture 
  •  Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest 
  •  Theme 3: Current and future study and employment 

Hodge Hill Girls School
Bromford Road
Birmingham
B36 8EY

0121 464 3094