Our Spanish Lead

Mrs Brown

Intent

At St Joseph’s, our Spanish curriculum inspires children to see themselves as global citizens who can achieve well and take opportunities to explore the world they belong to. Through engaging lessons that develop listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, children grow in confidence and resilience. By exploring the people, traditions, and celebrations of Spanish-speaking countries, pupils deepen their sense of belonging to a wider world while recognising that, as children of God, they are called to respect and value other cultures. Our curriculum ensures clear progression, enjoyment, and creativity, enabling every child to achieve their potential in language learning.

   

Implementation

Our Spanish curriculum has been developed in partnership with team of primary school teachers and secondary language specialists. Careful consideration has been given to ensure that the acquisition of knowledge has been carefully sequenced with prior knowledge built upon, resulting in a systematic and cumulative approach to language acquisition. 

Our curriculum covers the National Curriculum and is underpinned by the four key language skills:

Listening

Speaking

Reading

Writing

Four key units of work are taught and built upon throughout KS2, allowing pupils the opportunity to revisit prior knowledge and ensure progression of skills and master each of the areas. The units of work chosen for Key Stage 2 are essential units for transition into KS3 and feature into KS4.

Units Taught:

  • Basics
  • Family
  • Descriptions
  • Where I live

The curriculum units of work have clearly identified minimum knowledge ‘end points,’ and have been sequenced to ensure that pupils know more and remember more as they move through primary school and transfer into KS3. Each unit incorporates regular review opportunities so that skills are reinforced and remembered. In addition, short tasks to apply each of the four language skills have been included within the units of work to give pupils the opportunity to demonstrate their learning.

We use engaging resources, songs, games, and stories to make language learning fun and memorable, helping children to develop confidence in speaking and listening as well as reading and writing in Spanish.

Key Stage One

Whilst there are no formal lesson requirements for KS1, a range of resources have been made to ensure exposure to a modern foreign language. In addition, KS1 may participate in language enrichment days and cultural awareness days.

Key Stage Two 

Spanish is taught weekly in Key Stage 2. Lessons are planned so children are introduced to new vocabulary in each lesson and activities are designed so children can practise these new words, building on previous learning. The main focus in all lessons is on speaking and listening, particularly with a partner. Lessons are interactive and Spanish is spoken as much as possible.

141 KB
183 KB

Our School Partnership in Estepona!

We are proud of our partnership with a school in Estepona, Spain. Through regular video calls, letter exchanges and shared projects, our pupils develop authentic communication skills and a real connection to Spanish language and culture.

This partnership brings language learning to life, helping children to see the purpose of learning Spanish and to understand their place in the wider world.

Our planned visit to Estepona further strengthens this bond, offering pupils the opportunity to take their learning beyond the classroom and experience Spanish life first-hand.

Spanish and Oracy 

In Spanish, pupils continue to develop their oracy skills through speaking and listening activities, including role play, conversations, and presentations, helping them gain confidence and clarity in communication.

Spanish and Music

Music is also woven through the curriculum as pupils listen to and learn about traditional and contemporary Spanish music, using songs and rhythms to reinforce pronunciation, vocabulary, and cultural understanding. These connections make language learning engaging, memorable, and deeply rooted in real-world contexts.

Spanish Enrichment Days

We always strive to enrich our pupils experience of the curriculum beyond lessons. We celebrate Spanish Day annually, which provides us a chance to fully immerse ourselves in the Spanish Culture, making meaningful, cohesive links across the curriculum:

  • Global Citizenship - Writing to our friends in our partner school in Estepona 
  • Music - Learning, listening and recreating traditional Spanish music as well as learning key phrases through songs and rhymes 
  • Dance - Exploration of traditional Spanish dancing, such as flamenco, sardana and paso doble
  • Food - Trying popular foods, such a paella and jamon iberico
  • Art - Studying influencial Spanish artists like Joan Miro 

Our Year 5/6 pupils can't wait to experience all of the above in Spain in May!

Impact

Because of our Spanish curriculum, pupils are: 

  • Confident in listening, speaking, reading and writing in Spanish
  • Culturally aware through learning about Spanish-speaking countries and through authentic exchanges with our partner school in Estepona.
  • Able to progress their language skills and retain vocabulary and grammar as they move onto secondary education
  • Curious, resilient and ambitious, ready for future language learning and taking opportunities to explore the world as respectful and responsible global citizens.

Spanish Careers 

At St Joseph’s, learning Spanish helps pupils dream big and see the opportunities that language skills can bring in wider world. Pupils develop communication, problem-solving, and cultural awareness, which are valuable in a wide range of careers, including translation, tourism, teaching and global charities

By connecting language learning to real-world contexts, pupils gain confidence and ambition, understanding how their Spanish skills can open doors to exciting opportunities in the future.