The MFL department is staffed by four enthusiastic, dedicated and well-qualified language teachers, who are passionate about the benefits that learning a foreign language can bring.
Mrs R Palmer – Head of German
Mrs S Parkin – Head of French
Mrs F Mescam- Assistant Head
Mrs C Marriott – Teacher of German
Welcome to the French Department.
We bring French to life by embracing French culture and instilling the confidence to speak and be understood in a different language.
KS4
We follow a 2 year GCSE course by Pearson Edexcel, which enables us to comprehensively cover all thematic contexts and subjects in preparation for the exams at the end of Y11. This is a new specification and the first exams will be in Summer 2026.
Students learn phonics, vocabulary, language patterns and grammatical rules to give them an understanding of how the French language works. We use sound symbol correspondence to build confidence in Speaking and improve spelling accuracy in Writing tasks.
Thematic contexts are:
-My Personal world
-Lifestyle and wellbeing
-My neighbourhood
-Media and technology
-Studying and my future
-Travel and tourism
How we assess
Edexcel French New GCSE 2026
Paper 1: Speaking Internally conducted and externally assessed: Foundation tier: 7-9 minutes plus 15 minutes’ preparation time; 50 marks Higher tier: 10-12 minutes plus 15 minutes’ preparation time; 50 marks 25% of the qualification.
Task 1: Read aloud (12 marks) Task 2: Role play (10 marks) Task 3: Picture task (12 marks) with conversation (16 marks)
Paper 2: Listening and understanding Written examination: Foundation tier: 45 minutes, including 5 minutes’ reading time, 50 marks Higher tier: 60 minutes, including 5 minutes’ reading time, 50 marks 25% of the qualification.
Section A: Listening (40 marks) Students respond to multiple-choice, multiple-response and short-answer open response questions. All questions are set in English and students produce all responses in English. Section B: Dictation (10 marks) Students are assessed on their ability to transcribe spoken target language into written target language. They will be rewarded for their accuracy of spelling based on their knowledge and understanding of the sound symbol correspondences (SSCs) listed in the specification.
Paper 3: Reading and understanding Written examination: Foundation tier: 45 minutes, 50 marks Higher tier: 60 minutes, 50 marks 25% of the qualification.
Section A: Reading and Understanding (40 marks) Students respond to multiple-choice, multiple-response and short-answer open response questions based on these texts. All questions are set in English and students produce all responses in English. Section B: Translation into English (10 marks) Students translate a passage from target language into English, with instructions in English.
Paper 4: Writing Written examination: Foundation tier: 1 hour 15 minutes; 50 marks. Higher tier: 1 hour 20 minutes; 50 marks. 25% of the qualification.
Foundation Tier • Question 1: picture-based task (8 marks) • Question 2: one of two open-response questions, set in formal context (14 marks) • Question 3: one of two open-response questions, set in informal context (18 marks) • Question 4: translation into target language (10 marks) Higher Tier • Question 1: one of two open-response questions, set in informal context (18 marks) • Question 2: one of two open-response questions, set in formal context (22 marks) • Question 3: translation into target language (10 marks)
Subject specific websites to support independent learning and revision.
www.linguascope.com (password will be given to pupils)
https://www.pearsonactivelearn.com/app/Home (each pupil will have their own login)
https://www.duolingo.com/course/fr/en/Learn-French
Trips & Visits
For learners we organise a three day trip to northern France, staying in accommodation in the grounds of an old chateau. We sample French cooking, try out our French in shops and cafés, visit local attractions and get to experience hearing ‘real’ French all around us.
For our GCSE linguists we offer an annual trip abroad.
Vocab Modules
Welcome to the German Department.
We bring German to life by embracing the German culture and instilling the confidence to speak out and be heard.
KS3
We follow a full, three-year KS3 course, Stimmt! This enables us to comprehensively cover all themes and topic areas in preparation for GCSE study, starting in year 10.
Pupils learn phonics, language patterns and grammatical rules which give them an understanding of how German works. We use phonics to build confidence in speaking and to aid pupils’ spellings when writing.
Our main aim throughout KS3 is to engage, enthuse and inspire our young linguists. We make languages as real as we can within the heart of the West Midlands, whilst building the language foundations to enable pupils to go on to achieve at GCSE level with confidence and competence.
KS3 topics include:
KS4
GCSE
Pupils begin the GCSE course in year 10. Currently, German remains an option subject, but it is advisable for pupils with linguistic flair to continue through to GCSE level. Also if pupils are considering attending university the EBACC route will give them a real advantage. A good command of German can open many doors of opportunity in the future – not just for study, but for work, travel and cultural awareness.
Exam Board – Pearson Edexcel
At GCSE level, pupils are taught to communicate effectively in a variety of situations whilst developing their grammatical understanding. Pupils study the following themes on which the assessments are based in all 4 key skills, listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Theme 1: Identity and culture.
Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest.
Theme 3: Current and future study and employment.
How we assess
Key Stage 3: Each unit will see an end of Unit Assessment in Listening, Reading and Writing. Speaking assessments take place in topics which lend themselves to speaking, such as shopping dialogues and café role plays.
There will also be an end of year exam, assessing all topics and units covered throughout the year.
Key Stage 4:
The qualification consists of:
Speaking:
Foundation: 7-9 minutes plus 15 minutes’ preparation time (50 marks)
Higher: 10-12 minutes plus 15 minutes’ preparation time (50 marks)
There is a read aloud task, Role play and Picture task with conversation.
Listening:
Foundation: 45 minutes including 5 minutes reading time (50 marks)
Higher: 60 minutes including 5 minutes reading time (50 marks)
Reading:
Foundation: 45 minutes (50 marks)
Higher: 60 minutes (50 marks)
Writing:
Foundation: 1 hour 15 minutes (50 marks)
Higher: 1 hour 20 minutes (50 marks)
Foundation: picture task, 2 extended writing tasks and a translation into German.
Higher: 2 extended writing tasks and a translation into German.
Subject specific websites to support independent learning and revision.
www.linguascope.com(password will be given to pupils)
https://www.pearsonactivelearn.com/app/Home (each pupil will have their own login)
https://www.duolingo.com/course/de/en/Learn-German
https://www.germany.travel/en/home.html
https://ukgermanconnection.org/kids/
Trips & Visits
For our wonderful German GCSE linguists we offer an annual trip abroad.
We have enjoyed over 12 extremely successful and fun trips to the continent, where both staff and pupils have formed exceptionally fond memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. We ensure that all activities and tours have cultural significance, whilst utilising our budget and maximising our time in Germany. This is a magical opportunity for pupils to be immersed in culture, which will enrich and develop skills.
We have previously visited Köln (Cologne) with its impressive cathedral, München (Munich) where we paid a visit to the Allianz Arena – home of Bayern München and also a visit to BMW Welt and the famous Hofbräuhaus.
Knowledge Organisers
How languages fit in at dormston?
German
German
German
Grouped by assessment and according to ability and aptitude
German / French
6 lessons per fortnight
Ability sets where possible or mixed if fewer numbers
