The Spanish department at Weald of Kent Grammar School is dedicated to inspiring a passion for language in our students while broadening their understanding and appreciation of the world around them, alongside enhancing their linguistic abilities. Our goal is to equip students not only with practical communication skills for future use but also with a deep insight into the lives, cultures, and languages of other countries. Our progressive curriculum in Spanish builds solidly on the foundations of the National Curriculum that students are exposed to during their time at primary school. Throughout their time with us, students continuously develop both knowledge and skills. Key elements such as vocabulary, grammar, listening, speaking, reading, writing, and translation are integrated across all schemes of work. This consistent practice occurs not only within individual topics but also across modules, academic years, and key stages, fostering students’ confidence and a sense of achievement in their language learning journey.

In addition, we aim to cultivate students’ curiosity about the wider world and the cultural richness of Spanish-speaking communities. Our curriculum includes the study of grammar and linguistic structures that also deepen students’ understanding of their native language. It encourages the development of versatile skills applicable to a variety of future opportunities. Our carefully selected lesson content includes also many opportunities to learn about the customs and traditions of Spanish-speaking countries which, together with the extra-curricular activities on offer, help to broaden our students' cultural awareness and builds valuable cultural capital.

Course Content

Years 7-9

In Key Stage 3 students study a wide range of topics, including but not limited to:

• Me, my family and friends
• My home and town
• The environment and being eco-friendly
• The Spanish-speaking world
• Food, drink and healthy living
• Future education and career plans
• Free time and holiday activities

By the end of Year 9, students are able to understand and communicate confidently about familiar topics using a range of vocabulary and basic grammar, being able to identify and use five main tenses: present, preterite, imperfect, future and conditional. They can speak and write with confidence on a variety of topics, giving opinions and justifications to support their ideas. They can also infer meaning from a range of texts and spoken passages. Additionally, students develop cultural awareness by learning about the customs and traditions of Spanish-speaking countries, helping them connect language learning with real-world contexts.

Years 10 & 11

In Key Stage 4 students build upon the foundations of Years 7-9 and study the following AQA GCSE Spanish themes:

• Theme 1: People and lifestyle
• Theme 2: Popular culture
• Theme 3: Communication and the world around us

By the end of Year 11, students are able to write more sophisticated texts and speak confidently and fluently on a variety of subjects. They use an extensive range of vocabulary, linguistic structures, and grammatical concepts to enhance their communication. Their listening, reading, and translation skills are also refined, allowing them to identify both main ideas and finer details in spoken and written materials.

Years 12 & 13

In Key Stage 5 students begin to think more critically and analyse information and current affairs in Spanish. They study the AQA A Level Spanish themes of:

• Social Issues and Trends
   This theme covers aspects of Hispanic society, including:
• Modern and traditional values
• Cyberspace and its impact
• Equal rights and gender equality

 

• Political and Artistic Culture
   Students examine political life and artistic expression in the Hispanic world, covering:
• Artistic culture, such as regional identity, cultural heritage, and modern-day idols
• Political life, including monarchies, dictatorships, and youth activism

 

Additionally, students study a film and a literary work, writing analytical essays that express their own points of view supported by evidence and detailed analysis. As part of their speaking exam, they research and deliver a presentation on a topic of their choice. They also study Spanish grammar extensively, broadening their ability to use and understand a wider range of advanced vocabulary and language structures.

Greater depth

• Engage with authentic media – Watch Spanish-language news (e.g. RTVE, BBC Mundo), films, or TV series with subtitles gradually reduced, or listen to Spanish podcasts/audiobooks to develop listening comprehension and cultural familiarity.
• Read beyond textbooks – Explore Spanish novels, short stories, newspapers, or online blogs at an appropriate level. Start with graded readers and progress to original texts to build vocabulary and cultural insight.
• Write creatively and reflectively – Keep a daily journal, write short essays, or create stories in Spanish.
• AI/chatbot conversations – Use Spanish conversation bots or AI tools that allow spoken input. These simulate dialogues and provide instant feedback on pronunciation and fluency.
• Research cultural and historical topics – Choose themes such as Spanish art, Latin American politics, or regional traditions, and prepare a short presentation, blog post, or poster—in Spanish—to combine language practice with deeper cultural knowledge.

Co-Curricular Opportunities:

• European Day of Languages assemblies and events
• Spanish cinema club
• Christmas card competition
• British Film Institute workshop for A Level students
• Year 10 enrichment trip to a Spain
• A Level immersion trip to Spain

Testimonials

Passionate, inspiring, and determined is how we would describe our languages department at Weald of Kent.  Learning languages at school is an increasingly relevant and transferable skill that can open endless opportunities in the future. The environment our teachers create is not only positive, but also motivational. We always feel encouraged to succeed, and their unwavering support throughout GCSE’s was the deciding factor in us choosing to continue to learn languages at A Level. One of the many enjoyable factors of studying languages is the mixture of speaking, listening, and writing, which are made clear and easy to follow by our teachers.

Throughout our time in sixth form, we have been given many opportunities to apply what we learn inside the classroom to a real-life context whether that be trips or other activities. For example, Lexi and I were able to take part in a local debating competition. Opportunities like these have not only allowed us to improve our academic abilities within the language but simultaneously allowed us to develop our confidence and communication skills along the way. Mistakes being common during the learning process can be frustrating, however it is the resilience and persistence encouraged by the teachers that ultimately allows us to progress as linguists.

Lexie and Bea (Sixth form students)

 

Studying languages at Weald is a crucial part of the curriculum as it enables you to discover different cultures and traditions of other countries, as well as aiding you in your future career. For me, learning Spanish is an incredibly interesting part of my timetable, as it allows me to not only learn the language, but the cultural traditions and festivals of the Hispanic world, such as La Tomatina, El Día de los Muertos and La Feria de las Flores. During my time at Weald, I have also learnt about traditional dishes that are eaten in Spain and other Spanish speaking countries.

Maisy (Year 11 student)

 

Before I started learning Spanish in year 7, I didn’t have many expectations, however I have loved learning it more than I ever thought I would. I have found it interesting to learn new vocabulary and I find lessons are entertaining. Also, I feel confident about my ability in class, and I feel happy to put my hand up to answer questions. Overall, I have really enjoyed learning Spanish and I look forward to learning more in year 10.

Jenna (Year 9 student)