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17/09/24

“I used to be shy, but this week I’ve started putting my hand up more in class. I’m more confident now, and it feels good to share my ideas.” Shaheem (left), who came to us from John Donne Primary. Come and see our school for yourself. Open Event dates at https://t.co/W6QXf6prds pic.twitter.com/Iz3TJ5fDEr

17/09/24

Students on our new Performing Arts Bursary pathway met Mr Edwards this morning to map out their pathways for the year. They will receive free musical tuition, major roles in the school performance and courses with our artist in residence, Molly Burrows. https://t.co/pw61lPrnoc pic.twitter.com/mYxxbMUw6a

12/09/24

Year 7 students Robert, Muhammad, Othniel, Shaheem and William look back on their first two weeks of secondary school. The five came from different primaries: , Torridon, Bessemer Grange,  and . Read what they say at https://t.co/DF7GtlB2p0 pic.twitter.com/8dsGBTQkH0

12/09/24

We look forward to welcoming you to our Open Events. Our Open Evening is on Thursday 26th September 2024, 5pm-7pm.We also have drop-in mornings from 8.40-10.30am on:Monday 30th September 2024Tuesday 1st October 2024Wednesday 2nd October 2024Details https://t.co/W6QXf6prds pic.twitter.com/ZREuYAZP1r

22/08/24

Mr Brett pictured with Stanley, who achieved nine Grade 9s and two Grade 8s, and Lucas, who achieved six Grade 9s, three Grade 8s and one Grade 7. Congratulations to our students, staff and parents for our best ever results. https://t.co/8HL05iUS1j pic.twitter.com/EYkcMWoEvW

22/08/24

Students at Harris Boys' Academy East Dulwich are celebrating achieving the Academy’s best-ever results this morning.Students gained a total of 276 top Grade 9s and Grade 8s across their subjects. Full story https://t.co/8HL05iUkbL pic.twitter.com/ieGFL9vC5u

16/08/24

Harris Academy East celebrates A-level and success with student securing job at @DeloitteUKhttps://t.co/bG4cSWkHgF pic.twitter.com/1Mxh5DdxxH

15/08/24

Amy (pictured with Mr Chan) is taking up a place on the Harris Apprenticeship, an exciting brand-new programme in HR, Talent Acquisition and Finance. pic.twitter.com/9VZAPNBZ6v

15/08/24

Mr Brett and Mr Ingham pictured with Robiq, Elijah and Markell - all going to the University of Leicester after achieving their great results. pic.twitter.com/RKP2QmrThZ

15/08/24

More of our students than ever before have gained places at Russell Group universities including Nottingham, Exeter, Kings College London, Bristol and Southampton. Ryan (left) is going to SOAS to read law, while Sky is going to the University of Exeter to study Business. pic.twitter.com/GkUmaTPS6B

15/08/24

Students at Harris Sixth Form at East Dulwich are reaping the rewards of two years of hard work as they collect their results today. At A-Level, 40% of entries achieved A*-A grades. In Technical Levels in Sport and IT students averaged a Distinction + grade overall. pic.twitter.com/jsvVqviR2X

11/07/24

We hosted a fantastic summer concert yesterday, organised with meticulous care and passion by the ever-dedicated Ms Bee.The event was a resounding success, showcasing the immense talent of students from Years 7-12 and a true celebration of our school's vibrant musical culture. pic.twitter.com/1wc2r4AUGi

10/07/24

Harris Boys' Academy East Dulwich has scored a major win by clinching the 2024 EY Foundation Impact Award for Southern Education Partner.Announced yesterday, this award highlights the school's positive impact on the community in Southern England. https://t.co/zgJnFv6HP5 pic.twitter.com/8ImbNGi33l

02/07/24

The 30th anniversary of the opening of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London was the occasion for 30 of our Year 8 students to attend a spectacular performance of Shakespeare's 'The Taming of the Shrew' at the theatre recently. pic.twitter.com/1mPxaGAVpe

26/06/24

Harris Boys’ Academy East Dulwich is proud to have been awarded the Quality in Careers Standard, meaning that our careers programme meets all the gold-standard criteria for world-class advice and guidance. https://t.co/jcBZUJMPk5 pic.twitter.com/CGxkWnJ8Fk

17/06/24

Summer Showcase, 10th July, 6.30pm - Get Your Tickets! pic.twitter.com/VJYChQMf5J

06/06/24

Addressing smartphone addiction - headteachers of 17 Southwark secondary schools call on families to support a new joint approach to tackling the profoundly negative impact of Smartphones and Social Media on young people." Find out more https://t.co/kpYOXZ8hrm

23/05/24

Our Student Council has been working on a group project with students from James Allen's Girls' School to organise a writing competition focused on . Find our more about our neurodiversity writing competition at https://t.co/xnEkgtfYj5 pic.twitter.com/NTHnNajSD4

23/05/24

See our latest science experment with our Science Technician, Dr. Rudolf Van Koningsveld. This one is on convection... https://t.co/boc1XYMjJt

12/05/24

Harris Dulwich Boys is pleased to announce a partnership with in support of their State School Sixth Form Cricket Programme. Details https://t.co/pLEr6OKPi1

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Spanish

Our curriculum intent in Spanish is to take students on a voyage of discovery, fostering open-mindedness to different cultures and ways of life. Curriculum plans for all year groups can be downloaded from the bottom of the page.

We believe that learning a language provides an insight to discovering the world and it is a vehicle for overcoming barriers to learning. Therefore, through high quality language learning we promote students’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of countries, people, cultures, history, literature and art. We challenge students, to consider their identity and place in the world; as well as to appreciate different ways of viewing the world.

The benefits of learning a language are manifold and very well documented. The LLAS6 has given no less than 700 reasons for studying languages and grouped into 70 different key areas in which languages make a difference. We strive to communicate these reasons to our students both explicitly and implicitly through our curriculum and passionate, enthusiastic teachers.

The apprenticeship of learning a language provides an open road to the world and a vehicle for overcoming barriers. Languages education is an entitlement for all and key in promoting social justice. This belief is strengthened in the face of recent national trends that show a positive correlation between socio-economic disadvantage, and reduced access and time allocated to language learning. By developing students’ linguistic, communicative and intercultural skills, we strive to foster rounded individuals ready for lifelong language learning and entry into a global, more cooperative and more peaceful world.

Spanish


The benefits of learning a language and a new culture 

1. To be connected

Learn the language of another culture and open yourself up to another world and connect to others making them feel less like a stranger.

2. Advance your career

Language skills also lead to hiring bonuses and increased salaries. Whatever your career aspiration—with language skills added to the mix, you’re ahead of the crowd!

3. Feed your brain

The many cognitive benefits of learning languages are undeniable. People who speak more than one language have improved memory, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, enhanced concentration, ability to multitask, and better listening skills.

4. Deepen Your Connection to Other Cultures

5. See the World

Traveling as a speaker of the local language can revolutionise a trip abroad. Learning a second language also opens additional doors to opportunities for studying or working abroad.

6. Go to the source

Having knowledge of another language empowers us to be able to access information that would otherwise be off-limits, for example being able to access and understand foreign media and entertainment.

7. Become a polyglot

research shows that it makes picking up additional languages a much easier feat, especially among children. When you learn a new language, you develop new brain networks that are primed and ready when you embark on learning a third language.

8. Boost your confidence

It’s a necessary part of the learning process! Learning a language means putting yourself out there and moving out of your comfort zone. The upside is the amazing sense of accomplishment you’ll feel when conversing with someone in their native language.

9. Strengthen your decision making

Studies show that decisions made in your second language are more reason-driven than those made in your native language.

10. Gain perspective

Challenge your own norms by gaining insight into a different way of doing things that you could learn from exploring a new language.


Five-year course

The MFL curriculum is a five-year course taking students on a linguistic, cultural and thematic journey, aiming to liberate our students from insularity by regularly prompting them to question their own identity and beliefs, be inquisitive and open their minds to those of others and appreciate diversity as wealth.

The curriculum is designed to promote communication at all stages by providing many opportunities for students to understand and respond to a variety of authentic sources in a variety of different contexts and for a variety of different audiences, gain confidence in communicating messages effectively, confidently and spontaneously, whilst also acquiring linguistic proficiency progressively through spaced repetition, revisiting key themes with greater depth and activating long term memory using retrieval practice as a core element of the lessons.  

We want to ensure all our students have the opportunity of learning a different language and another culture. It is our aspiration that the vast majority of students take a GCSE in Spanish. We have made good progress in this, increasing uptake from approximately 40% of students studying a language in 2011 to approximately 68% in 2023. 

All our Key Stage 3 students have two lessons weekly spread over frequent lessons of 45- or 90-minute duration and a GCSE level of at least four lessons per week. Students are taught across the skills of listening 25%, reading 25%, writing 25% and speaking 25%.  Following this method, our students have made better progress, developed greater confidence and are able to explore more intellectually stimulating and culturally-rich content. 


Spanish 1

For further information on the Spanish curriculum please contact Gema de Cos Sierra: g.decossierra@harrisdulwichboys.org.uk

Year 7

The Year 7 curriculum in Spanish starts with closing the knowledge gaps coming from the variability of the Key Stage 1 and 2 provision, to ensure that all students have the basic skills to access the study of Spanish.

Year 7 students learn to articulate details about themselves and those who are part of their lives. They learn to make descriptions on a variety of topics, such as identity, physical appearance and personality, family and friends, relationships, life at school and routines, pastimes and express their opinions.

Our curriculum includes a variety of projects, where the students need to use their creativity, manage their skills and times, test their aptitude and gives them a practical experience.

Year 7 LO

Year 8

The Year 8 curriculum in Spanish is designed to enable students to zoom out from describing their personal reality and consider what is around them. Students learn to articulate details about the world around them and their immediate or further surroundings. They learn to narrate events on a variety of topics, such as their areas, holiday and exchange experiences and the world of media.

Our curriculum includes a variety of projects, where the students need to use their creativity, manage their skills and times, test their aptitude and gives them a practical experience.

Year 8LO

Year 9

The Year 9 curriculum in Spanish is designed to revisit and recycles foundational knowledge from Year 7 and Year 8 to allow students to engage with familiar topic areas in greater conceptual depth and with increased linguistic complexity. In Year 9, students learn to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of a variety of situations, such as family models, relationships with family members and friends, role-models, how they spend their free-time, their passions, Spanish and British education systems. Our curriculum includes projects, where the students need to use their creativity, manage their skills and times, test their aptitude and gives them a practical experience.

Year 9 LO

Year 10

The Year 10 curriculum in Spanish is designed to extend the knowledge of students on the main themes from Key Stage 3 to allow students to engage with both familiar and new topic areas in greater conceptual depth and with increased linguistic complexity. In Year 10, students learn to describe, narrate and evaluate situations in more complex and varied ways, so they can communicate effectively with increasing ease in real-life contexts and present their views in a logical structure.

SPanish6

Year 11

The Year 11 curriculum in Spanish is designed to consolidating their linguistic knowledge whilst also providing extensive practice of the different units that are assessed in the examination. In Autumn and the first part of the Spring term, students will learn about topics such as future studies, employment, environment, social issues and solidarity, which require them to reflect on societal views and to shape their own views as future citizens of the world. 

SPanish7

Homework

We believe that homework teaches students to work independently and develop self-discipline. Homework encourages students to take initiative and responsibility for completing a task.

In the Modern Foreign Languages department, homework is set weekly for all groups and should take at least 30 minutes for pupils in Key Stage 3 and one hour in Key Stage 4.

All Spanish students in Years 7-10 are expected to complete homework exercises on www.languagenut.com.  This helps our students to develop their exam skills, through sound pedagogical activities spanning listening, reading, writing and speaking/talking using an interactive method.  

Extra-curricular Spanish

Extra-curricular Spanish aims to enrich and support the learning that has taken place in the classroom. The Modern Foreign Languages department run two clubs after school.

  • Spanish Spelling B: Our students practice their spelling skills in Spanish and competitive among themselves. Also, the winners of our internal competition win tickets to participate to the GRAN FINAL and compete against other Harris school.
  • Spanish culture club: Our students join a Spanish weekly cultural club where they learn and share different ideas on food, clothes, cultures from the Spanish speaking countries.  

During the year, we host different events in the school and outside the school, such as Spanish day, Trip BFI, Day of Languages and much more. Our aim is to get all the staff and students engaged and immersed in learning, appreciating and celebrating different cultures.

Helpful resources

New AQA specifications for Spanish GCSE 2018: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/spanish-8698

‘Mi Vida Loca’ interactive series - http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish/mividaloca/

News in Spanish - http://www.bbc.com/mundo

Something different - http://zachary-jones.com/zambombazo/

Gallery of students' work

Theo in Year 9 shows why he is the ‘King of HW’ as well as some excellent presentation and a good response to his teacher’s marking (below)

Spanish work example 2

Peter in Year 10 shows in his Speaking Booklet that he will be fully prepared when the controlled assessment begins (below).

Spanish work example 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phoenix in Year 10 demonstrates some excellent presentation and self-assessment (below).

Spanish work example 4

 

Jerry in Year 7 shows amazing progress in his writing after just three months of studying Spanish (below).

Spanish work example 5

Careers

The demand for language skills is increasing in the ever-widening global market and the mobility of the workforce means that we are constantly in competition for jobs where even a basic knowledge of another language is growing in importance and is considered a distinct advantage.

Not only does research suggest that language graduates are generally more employable than their counterparts but there are plenty of career opportunities for those who want to use languages in their profession. These include:

  • Translation
  • Interpretation
  • Tourism
  • International companies
  • Banking
  • Education