Curriculum Intent
At St. Gregory’s, our MFL curriculum helps children to understand the wider world and recognise what it means to be a global citizen. Learning a new language promotes curiosity, tolerance and respect for other cultures, enabling pupils to appreciate both similarities and differences across communities.
As part of the Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust, we follow the Trust MFL Curriculum, which provides a clear, progressive pathway into language learning. Spanish is our chosen language, allowing pupils to build secure foundations that support future language study at Key Stage 3 and beyond.
Through Spanish, we aim for our pupils to:
- Develop early skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing.
- Build confidence in communicating using a new language.
- Gain an appreciation of the culture, traditions and daily life of Spanish-speaking countries.
- Foster curiosity and enthusiasm for language learning.
- Strengthen memory, creativity and resilience through practising new vocabulary.
- Appreciate linguistic diversity within school, the community and the wider world.
Our MFL curriculum reflects our Trust virtues of curiosity, respect, resilience, responsibility and confidence.
Curriculum Implementation
Key Stage 2 – Formal Spanish Teaching
Spanish is taught formally in KS2, following the Trust’s structured MFL curriculum. Weekly lessons are carefully sequenced to ensure progression and include:
- Systematic development of phonics, grammar and vocabulary.
- Opportunities for pupils to practise pronunciation using native‑speaker audio.
- Activities that build speaking and listening skills, such as paired dialogue, games and role play.
- Reading and writing tasks that progress from familiar words and phrases to short sentences in Upper KS2.
- Retrieval practice to strengthen long‑term memory of key vocabulary.
- Use of songs, chants, stories and visual stimuli to support engagement and recall.
Lessons follow a consistent structure and last around 30 minutes, ensuring regular, focused exposure to the language.
Key Stage 1 – Cultural Exposure
In KS1, pupils do not receive formal Spanish lessons.
Instead, they gain early language awareness through school cultural days, such as:
- Spanish Day
- Stories, songs and simple greetings
- Whole‑school celebrations of Spanish food, music and traditions
These experiences build interest and enthusiasm ahead of formal learning in KS2.
Enrichment Opportunities
To deepen cultural understanding, pupils take part in:
- Annual Language and Cultural Days
- Activities exploring Spanish-speaking countries, festivals and traditions
- Cross-curricular links with geography (locations), RE (celebrations) and music (songs)
These experiences help pupils develop respect for cultural diversity and global awareness.
Curriculum Impact
By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils at St. Gregory’s:
- Demonstrate increasing confidence in speaking and understanding Spanish.
- Use key vocabulary and simple grammatical structures with growing accuracy.
- Show curiosity and respect for Spanish-speaking cultures.
- Retain and apply core language knowledge through regular retrieval and practice.
- Develop resilience and enthusiasm when using and applying new vocabulary.
- Are well prepared for modern foreign language study at Key Stage 3.
Impact is evident through:
- Pupil voice expressing enjoyment and confidence
- Spanish books showing progression across listening, speaking, reading and writing
- Active participation in speaking and cultural activities
- Engagement and enthusiasm during whole‑school cultural events
Spanish at St. Gregory’s nurtures confident communicators, culturally aware individuals and responsible global citizens.