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As a school, we believe that learning a foreign language is an essential life skill. In the Prep School, French is taught from Prep 1-4, Spanish in Prep 5 and Latin in Prep 6. French and Spanish are both taught in Years 7-9 and in Year 10 girls opt for one or both of these languages at GCSE.

All members of the Modern Languages Department are well qualified linguists with an absolute passion for their subject. Our aim is to create a lively, relevant and enjoyable learning experience that helps pupils achieve and become more confident. Teaching takes place in our purpose-built Helford Language Centre which is equipped with all the latest facilities – including Smartboards in every class room and an ICT suite with interactive software for speaking and listening activities.

We have foreign language assistants who offer regular conversation classes in small, informal groups and frequent foreign trips are organised to France and Spain. For girls studying French at GCSE and A Level we also now offer the chance to take part in a reciprocal week-long French Exchange programme with our partner school, Lycee Sainte Anne in Brittany. There are also plenty of opportunities to get involved in language activities outside timetabled lessons – for example, as a school we celebrate The European Day of Languages every year, attend university conferences and language events and enter competitions, for example the Routes into Languages Spelling Bee and Pop Video competition. We have been particularly successful in Year 7 Spelling Bee, with five girls reaching the national finals in Cambridge in recent years.

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