At KS4 students are given the opportunity to embed concepts into long term memory, connect new knowledge with existing knowledge and further develop the four modalities. Students build upon prior grammatical knowledge whilst regularly revisiting tenses and other key grammatical points in new contexts to ensure knowledge is secure.
Students interact with a wider range of tenses, including compound tenses, the future simple and conditional. They are also exposed to the concept of the subjunctive mood.
Students will be explicitly taught examination strategies throughout the course and these will be tested regularly.
At key stage 4, the curriculum is taught through familiar and newer contexts. This allows students to practise applying familiar concepts to less familiar contexts. Throughout this two year course students will complete a variety of listening, speaking, reading, writing and translation activities. The course is split up into the following five themes: Identity and culture, Local area, holidays, and travel, School, Future aspirations, study, and work, International and global dimensions.
Year 10
Autumn Term
Mi gente, mi mundo
My people, my world
Spring Term
Mi estilo de vida
My lifestyle
Summer Term
¡A clase!
To class!
Year 11
Autumn Term
Mi barrio y yo
My neighbourhood and I
Spring Term
Un mundo de esperanza para todos
A world of hope for all
Summer Term
El futuro te espera
The future awaits you
Assessment at Key stage 4
Over the course of year 10 and 11 students will complete 6 modules.
In addition to the regular high and low stake assessments, students will sit an end of year 10 examination, which will be a composite paper of past examination questions based on the topics covered to date. Students will sit the previous year’s GCSE listening, speaking, reading and writing examination papers in the autumn term of year 11. Another mock will also take place during the Spring term. Throughout years 10 and 11, students will sit past examination papers or complete past paper style tasks regularly. All receptive and productive skills will be developed alongside examination techniques. Year 10 and 11 examinations are used as formal checkpoints.
At the end of year 11, students will sit the following four examinations:
Paper 1:
Listening and understanding in Spanish (25% of final grade)
Foundation tier: 45 minutes including 5 minutes reading time.
Higher tier: 60 minutes including 5 minutes reading time.
Paper 2:
Speaking in Spanish (25% of final grade)
Foundation tier: 7–9 minutes plus 15 minutes preparation time.
Higher tier: 10–12 minutes plus 15 minutes preparation time.
Paper 3:
Reading and understanding in Spanish (25% of final grade)
Foundation tier: 45 minutes.
Higher tier: 1 hour.
Paper 4:
Writing in Spanish (25% of final grade)
Foundation tier: 75 minutes.
Higher tier: 80 minutes.
How can parents help support their child’s learning?
In order for your daughter to make good progress in her studies, it is important that she regularly revises vocabulary and grammar structures, either online or by using the following revision techniques: self-quizzing, mind maps, or flashcards.
Additional strategies that can further support her learning include:
• Encouraging her to practise dialogues or read passages aloud at home.
• Testing your daughter on the spellings and meanings of new words.
• Encouraging your daughter to revise new grammar learnt and practise applying it in writing and speaking activities.
• Encouraging your daughter to download the Quizlet app to increase vocabulary acquisition.
• Suggesting that she make full use of the independent learning resources available on ActiveHub and GCSE POD.
Your daughter may wish to purchase the following revision resources to support her Key Stage 4 studies:
- Viva! Edexcel GCSE Spanish Higher Student Book
Publisher: Pearson. Author: Rachel. Hawkes,Christopher Lillington. ISBN: 9781292118987
- Revise Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Spanish Revision Workbook. Publisher: Pearson. Author: Vivien Halksworth. ISBN: 9781292132075.
- Revise Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Spanish Revision Guide. Publisher: Pearson. Author: Leanda Reeves. ISBN: 9781292132105
- Viva! Edexcel GCSE Spanish Grammar and Translation Workbook. Publisher: Pearson. Author: Theodore Brown,Ian Kendrick,John Halksworth. ISBN: 9781292133300
- Revise Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Spanish Revision Cards. Publisher: Pearson. ISBN: 9781292270296
Enrichment opportunities
Students will have the opportunity to attend a Spanish theatre production. They may also attend additional booster sessions to develop and refine examination strategies and techniques.
GCSE course/s (exam board and code)
