Spanish – Key Stage 3 & 4

Spanish is taught across both Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4, allowing pupils to progressively develop their confidence, fluency and cultural understanding throughout their time at Rainhill High School.

Unlock Global Opportunities

Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world and offers countless opportunities for travel, work and personal growth. At Rainhill, our Spanish curriculum empowers pupils to communicate with confidence and develop an in-depth understanding of Hispanic cultures.

Throughout Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4, pupils build their listening, reading, speaking and writing skills while exploring a wide range of engaging topics including family, school, holidays, social issues, local area, future ambitions and the wider world. Pupils also gain insight into rich and diverse Spanish-speaking communities, encouraging cultural appreciation alongside language proficiency.

Why Study Spanish?

Spanish is an essential language for international business, law, media and travel. It is also an asset within the United Kingdom’s diverse and multicultural society. Learning Spanish helps pupils develop communication, resilience, empathy, listening skills and adaptability — valuable qualities that support success across all future career paths.

Assessment

Key Stage 4 Assessment Breakdown

  • Listening (25%)
  • Speaking (25%)
  • Reading (25%)
  • Writing (25%)

Final assessments are sat at the end of the course and are designed to reflect real-world communication.

Year 7

Term 1 – All about me and my family and pets
Term 2 – My home
Term 3 – My region

Identify gist and some detail in face-to-face exchanges, spoken passages, stories and/or songs.
Sustain perseverance and concentration when listening to speech containing some unfamiliar but accessible language in familiar contexts.
Interpret speakers’ intentions from intonation and tone of voice.
Construct and generate language, using the knowledge organiser. Make effective use of simple verbal or visual prompts in order to take part in conversations.
Plan and present short sentences, speaking clearly and with accurate pronunciation.
Engage listeners’ attention through expression and non-verbal techniques.
Identify main points and some detail in written passages, stories, songs or poems.
Use knowledge of word forms, syntax and context to engage with some unfamiliar but accessible language in a text.
Use sentences and paragraphs as models for writing.
Make effective use of familiar language in different text types.
Investigate aspects of Spanish/Hispanic life and compare with British life, noting similarities and differences.
Explore interests of young Spanish/Hispanic people and compare with young British people.
Reflect on and challenge stereotypes.
Apply knowledge of common sound patterns and accents.
Build and use in new contexts high-frequency words.
Use knowledge of gender and plural forms to make changes to words and phrases.
Use knowledge of word order, high-frequency words and punctuation to understand and build simple and compound sentences.
Understand and use present tense forms of high-frequency verbs and examples of past and other tense forms for set phrases.
Understand and use some common question types in different contexts.
Understand and use confidently some common negative forms in different contexts.
Identify patterns of pronunciation, word formation, word order, grammatical structure and sentence structure in Spanish.
Discuss, compare and use a range of techniques for memorising words, phrases, structures and spellings.
Compare words, phrases, spellings, punctuation, sentence structure and grammatical structures in Spanish with English and/or any other language they know well.
Use previous knowledge context and other clues to work out the meaning of what is heard/read.
Make appropriate and effective use of knowledge organiser and/or dictionary to aid understanding, build vocabulary and develop speaking and writing.
Read aloud written text with increasing fluence, accuracy and expression, showing awareness of meaning.
Evaluate and improve the quality of speech and writing.

Year 8

Term 1 – Hispanic food and diet
Term 2 – Free time activities and hobbies
Term 3 – Holidays

Understand spoken and written information (at near normal speed) on the topic of free time activities.
Sustain perseverance and concentration when listening to speech containing familiar language used in new contexts.
Identify and use specific language on the topic of free time for a range of communicative functions.
Plan and carry out conversations, pupil to pupil/pupil to teacher on the topic of free time.
Use some complex language in the past, present and future tense.
Use simple idioms relating to the topic.
Develop vocabulary through contact with authentic materials e.g., Song/story/poem.
Give personal response to written texts on the topic of free time activities.
Investigate traditions/customs that do not exist in our culture.
Identify and recall common exceptions to the usual patterns of sounds and spellings.
Apply knowledge of gender and plural forms in written and spoken form.
Understand and use a range of verb forms referring to the past, present and future events relating to free time activities.
Understand and use a range of question types and negative forms.

Year 9

Term 1 – Jobs and chores
Term 2 – Free time plans
Term 3 – Holidays and festivals

Understand longer sequences of speech, noting relevant points of verbal feedback and discussion.
Listen to authentic speech from different sources/regions.
Listen for language variation in formal and informal contexts with the use of tu vs usted.
Adapt the degree of formality of language to suit different situations.
Make extended and/or frequent contributions to classroom talk.
Add interest through extended sentences and imaginative use of vocabulary.
Identify and summarise evidence from text to support or refute ideas.
Develop vocabulary through contact with authentic materials e.g., Song/story/poem.
Infer attitudes, feelings and points of view in a text by reading between the lines and listening to tone of voice.
Link sentences and paragraphs using appropriate words and phrases in order to produce a coherent sequence of text.
Explain predominant belief and values, showing awareness of perspectives that may differ from British values.
Understand how attitudes towards other countries and world events may differ from British culture.
Identify and recall common exceptions to the usual patterns of sounds and spellings and put into practice when speaking in Spanish.
Develop and refine use of vocabulary by adding knowledge of word families and words with close meanings.
Apply knowledge of gender and plural forms in written and spoken form.
Use knowledge of word order, phrases and clauses to understand and build a wider range of extended sentences.
Recognise past, present and future verb forms and switch from one tense to another in speaking and writing.
Understand and use key past and future tense forms of set phrases.
Understand and use a range of question types and negative forms.
Identify patterns of pronunciation, word order, grammatical structures and sentence structures in Spanish.
Discuss, compare and use a range of techniques for memorising words, phrases, structures and spellings.
Compare words, phrases, spellings, punctuation, sentence structures in Spanish with English and/or French/German.
Use previous knowledge, context and other clues to work out meaning of what has been read or heard.
Make appropriate use of knowledge organiser and/or dictionary to aid understanding, build vocabulary and develop speaking and writing.
Read aloud written text with increasing fluency, accuracy and expression, showing awareness of meaning.
Evaluate and improve the quality of speech, writing and ability to understand the spoken and written word.

Year 10

Term 1 – My personal world 

Term 2 – Travel and Tourism 

Term 3 – My people and my world 

Listening: understand and respond to spoken Spanish 

  • Demonstrate general and specific understanding of different types of spoken language 
  • Follow and understand clear standard speech using familiar language across a range of specified contexts (see above)  
  • Identify the overall message, key points, details and opinions in a variety of short and longer spoken passages, involving some more complex language, recognising the relationship between past, present and future events 
  • Deduce meaning from a variety of short and longer spoken texts, involving some complex language and more abstract material, including short narratives and authentic material addressing a wide range of contemporary and cultural themes 
  • Recognise and respond to key information, important themes and ideas in more extended spoken text, including authentic sources, adapted and abridged, as appropriate, by being able to answer questions, extract information, evaluate and draw conclusions. 

Speaking: communicate and interact in speech 

  • Communicate and interact effectively in speech for a variety of purposes across a range of specified contexts 
  • Take part in a short conversation, asking and answering questions, and exchanging opinions 
  • Convey information and narrate events coherently and confidently, using and adapting language for new purposes 
  • Initiate and develop conversations and discussion, producing extended sequences of speech 
  • Make appropriate and accurate use of a variety of vocabulary and grammatical structures, including some more complex forms, with reference to past, present and future events 
  • Use accurate pronunciation and intonation to be understood by a native speaker. 

 

Reading: understand and respond to written Spanish  

  • Understand and respond to different types of written language 
  • Understand general and specific details within texts using high frequency familiar language across a range of contexts 
  • Identify the overall message, key points, details and opinions in a variety of short and longer written passages, involving some more complex language, recognising the relationship between past, present and future events 
  • Deduce meaning from a variety of short and longer written texts from a range of specified contexts, including authentic sources involving some complex language and unfamiliar material, as well as short narratives and authentic material addressing a wide range of relevant contemporary and cultural themes 
  • Recognise and respond to key information, important themes and ideas in more extended written text and authentic sources, including some extracts from relevant abridged or adapted literary texts 
  • Demonstrate understanding by being able to scan for particular information, organise and present relevant details, draw inferences in context and recognise implicit meaning where appropriate 
  • Translate a short passage from Spanish into English. 

 

Writing: communicate in Spanish 

  • Communicate effectively in writing for a variety of purposes across a range of specified contexts (see above)  
  • Write short texts, using simple sentences and familiar language accurately to convey meaning and exchange information 
  • Produce clear and coherent text of extended length to present facts and express ideas and opinions appropriately for different purposes and in different settings 
  • Make accurate use of a variety of vocabulary and grammatical structures, including some more complex forms, to describe and narrate with reference to past, present and future events 
  • Manipulate the language, using and adapting a variety of structures and vocabulary with increasing accuracy and fluency for new purposes, including using appropriate style and register 
  • Translate sentences and/or short texts from English into Spanish to convey key messages accurately and to apply grammatical knowledge of language and structures in context. 

 

Year 11

Half Term 1 Me, My Family and Friends
Half Term 2 & 3 Global and Social Issues
Half Term 4 Home and Local Area
Half Terms 4 & 5 All Themes and Skills Revision

Listening: Understand and Respond to Spoken Spanish

  • Demonstrate general and specific understanding of different types of spoken language

  • Follow and understand clear standard speech using familiar language across a range of specified contexts

  • Identify the overall message, key points, details and opinions in a variety of short and longer spoken passages, involving some more complex language, recognising the relationship between past, present and future events

  • Deduce meaning from a variety of short and longer spoken texts, involving some complex language and more abstract material, including short narratives and authentic material addressing a wide range of contemporary and cultural themes

  • Recognise and respond to key information, important themes and ideas in more extended spoken text, including authentic sources, adapted and abridged, as appropriate, by being able to answer questions, extract information, evaluate and draw conclusions

Speaking: Communicate and Interact in Speech

  • Communicate and interact effectively in speech for a variety of purposes across a range of specified contexts

  • Take part in a short conversation, asking and answering questions, and exchanging opinions

  • Convey information and narrate events coherently and confidently, using and adapting language for new purposes

  • Initiate and develop conversations and discussion, producing extended sequences of speech

  • Make appropriate and accurate use of a variety of vocabulary and grammatical structures, including some more complex forms, with reference to past, present and future events

  • Use accurate pronunciation and intonation to be understood by a native speaker

  • Speak spontaneously, responding to unexpected questions, points of view or situations, sustaining communication by using rephrasing or repair strategies, as appropriate

  • Make creative and more complex use of the language, as appropriate, to express and justify their own thoughts and points of view

Reading: Understand and Respond to Written Spanish

  • Understand and respond to different types of written language

  • Understand general and specific details within texts using high frequency familiar language across a range of contexts

  • Identify the overall message, key points, details and opinions in a variety of short and longer written passages, involving some more complex language, recognising the relationship between past, present and future events

  • Deduce meaning from a variety of short and longer written texts from a range of specified contexts, including authentic sources involving some complex language and unfamiliar material, as well as short narratives and authentic material addressing a wide range of relevant contemporary and cultural themes

  • Recognise and respond to key information, important themes and ideas in more extended written text and authentic sources, including some extracts from relevant abridged or adapted literary texts

  • Demonstrate understanding by being able to scan for particular information, organise and present relevant details, draw inferences in context and recognise implicit meaning where appropriate

  • Translate a short passage from Spanish into English

Writing: Communicate in Spanish

  • Communicate effectively in writing for a variety of purposes across a range of specified contexts

  • Write short texts, using simple sentences and familiar language accurately to convey meaning and exchange information

  • Produce clear and coherent text of extended length to present facts and express ideas and opinions appropriately for different purposes and in different settings

  • Make accurate use of a variety of vocabulary and grammatical structures, including some more complex forms, to describe and narrate with reference to past, present and future events

  • Manipulate the language, using and adapting a variety of structures and vocabulary with increasing accuracy and fluency for new purposes, including using appropriate style and register

  • Translate sentences and/or short texts from English into Spanish to convey key messages accurately and to apply grammatical knowledge of language and structures in context

  • Make independent, creative and more complex use of the language, as appropriate, to note down key points, express and justify individual thoughts and points of view, in order to interest, inform or convince

  • Develop their ability to communicate confidently and coherently with native speakers in speech and writing, conveying what they want to say with increasing accuracy

  • Express and develop thoughts and ideas spontaneously and fluently

  • Listen to and understand clearly articulated, standard speech at near normal speed

  • Deepen their knowledge about how language works and enrich their vocabulary to increase their independent use and understanding of extended language in a range of contexts

  • Acquire new knowledge, skills and ways of thinking through the ability to understand and respond to authentic spoken and written material, adapted and abridged, as appropriate, including literary texts

  • Develop awareness and understanding of the culture and identity of the countries and communities where Spanish is spoken

  • Make appropriate links to other areas of the curriculum to enable bilingual and deeper learning, where the language may become a medium for constructing and applying knowledge

  • Develop language learning skills both for immediate use and prepare them for further language study in school, higher education or employment

  • Develop language strategies, including repair strategies