French, German and Spanish are the languages offered to GCSE, AS and A2 level
Mandarin is offered as a beginner level course to girls in the lower school this year and we hope to extend the provision next year.
Japanese, Portuguese and Italian are taken by individuals as private lessons and tutors can always be arranged if a specific language is requested.
Girls in the lower fours and fours are taught three periods of French and one period of Spanish per week.
In the upper fours the provision for French and Spanish increases to four periods per week. German is offered as an ab initio course for those wishing to take it in the upper fours. Spanish and German are currently timetabled together making French and Spanish or French and German the possible language combinations. Mandarin is also available.
We have a long-standing French exchange programme with Le Caousou, a school in Toulouse and the upper fours are encouraged to participate in this programme of activities. There is a trip to Madrid for those studying GCSE Spanish and a German exchange programme for those studying GCSE German.
In the sixth form we join forces with The Oratory School and participate in a French work experience programme to Paris and Saint Malo. We are looking towards setting up an exchange programme for those studying A level Spanish with a school in Bilbao, again working alongside pupils from The Oratory School.
We are fortunate in our provision of foreign language assistants and have this year members of staff from France, Germany and Mexico who work with pupils to improve their oral proficiency.
Each class is timetabled to use the language laboratory and computer facilities once per week. These are housed in the modern languages block.
Teaching staff
Head of Modern Languages: Mrs Belinda Hough-Robbins
Mrs J Bushby
Mrs Susan Norman
Mr A Rogeon
Ms Pilar Vega-Leal (part time)