Departmental Staff
Mme F Chartrain, MA (Nantes) Head of Modern Languages and French
R D Appleton, BA (Durham) Head of Spanish
Miss M A Sowa, BA (University of Kent) Head of German
Miss C Dumas, BA (Durham)
Miss L Mulligan, BA (Exeter)
Mrs J Spencer Ellis, BA (Hull)
Ms B Thomas, BA (Bristol)
Miss N Veronese, MA (Bologna)
Mrs J Wright, BA (Wales)
Modern Languages at RGS
All pupils in the First Form (Year 7) study one modern language, either French, or Spanish. A second modern language is started in the Second Form (Year 8) (French, Spanish or German). One or two languages may then be taken through to GCSEs (AQA). All three languages are offered at AS and A2 levels (AQA French and German, EdExcel Spanish). Italian is available as a beginners course to GCSE for pupils in the Lower Sixth (Year 12), and at AS level in the Upper Sixth. An Introduction to Japanese language and culture is also offered as an after-school club. Examination results over recent years have been encouraging, with most students gaining A* and As and continuing with a language at university.
Language teaching is carried out for the most part in the target language in all years. There are internal written examinations, aural tests and oral tests on a regular basis. We see visits abroad as an extension of our classroom work. These visits are arranged for many year groups, whether as work experience, homestays, cultural visits or exchanges. Visits to Spain in 2010-11 included a Year 10 visit to Cantabria; recent visits to Germany included Berlin, while visits to France included an exchange programme for Year 10 pupils. More trips are planned for the year 2011-12
For a summary of the courses please click below.
French
German
Spanish
Examination Boards
GCSE: AQA for French, German and Spanish
A-Level : AQA for French and German, EdExcel for Spanish
Examination Results: French
| GCSE |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
| No. of entries |
70 |
73 |
71 |
| % A*/A |
55.7 |
50.7 |
43 |
| % A-C |
92.9 |
94.5 |
82 |
| A-Level |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
| No. of entries |
4 |
19 |
10 |
| % A*/A |
100 |
94.7 |
90 |
| % A-C |
100 |
94.7 |
100 |
Examination Results: German
| GCSE |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
| No. of entries |
5 |
25 |
13 |
| % A*/A |
100 |
36 |
54 |
| % A-C |
100 |
88 |
100 |
| A-Level |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
| No. of entries |
n/a |
3 |
1 |
| % A*/A |
n/a |
100 |
100 |
| % A-C |
n/a |
100 |
100 |
Examination Results: Spanish
| GCSE |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
| No. of entries |
64 |
45 |
71 |
| % A*/A |
62.5 |
66.7 |
63 |
| % A-C |
93.8 |
97.8 |
96 |
| A-Level |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
| No. of entries |
5 |
17 |
10 |
| % A*/A |
80 |
100 |
80 |
| % A-C |
100 |
100 |
100 |
Departmental activities 2010-11
Languages day – 26th September
1st year languages day – Summer Festival
Japanese club – weekly, after-school