Subject Information - Modern Foreign Languages

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 At Padgate Academy, the MFL Department is committed to delivering an engaging and enriching journey into the Spanish language and culture. Through a knowledge-rich and carefully sequenced curriculum, we aim to inspire pupils to become confident, curious, and capable linguists who can communicate with accuracy, fluency, and flair in Spanish.

Our teaching is underpinned by Gianfranco Conti’s Extensive Processing Instruction (EPI) framework, ensuring that learning is both meaningful and memorable. Lessons focus on high-frequency vocabulary, core grammatical structures, phonics, and the key skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. This research-informed approach helps pupils develop strong linguistic competence, while encouraging resilience, independence, and a genuine enjoyment of language learning.

We believe that language learning should extend beyond the classroom. Pupils benefit from a range of real-world enrichment opportunities, such as trips to local tapas restaurants and visits to further education colleges. These experiences bring the Spanish language and culture to life and help pupils understand its relevance beyond Padgate.

Cultural awareness is woven throughout our curriculum, with pupils exploring key events, festivals, and traditions from across the Spanish-speaking world. These experiences broaden their perspectives and foster a deeper appreciation of the global importance of Spanish.

At the heart of our curriculum is the belief that communication is essential—being able to understand and be understood is a vital life skill. Our approach equips pupils with the confidence and tools they need to thrive in an increasingly interconnected, multilingual world.