Spanish at Co-op Academy Medlock

'Language shapes the way we think, and determines what we can think about'

Benjamin Lee Whorf

Intent

At Co-op Academy Medlock, Spanish is an important part of our broad and balanced curriculum. We believe that learning a language inspires curiosity, broadens horizons, and deepens pupils’ understanding of the wider world. Our aim is for all children to develop a love of languages and an appreciation of different cultures.

Spanish was chosen as our modern foreign language because it is widely spoken across the globe and provides strong foundations for future language learning. Through high-quality teaching and engaging activities, pupils gain the confidence to listen, speak, read, and write in Spanish with increasing fluency and understanding.

Language learning holds a special place in our school because of the rich linguistic diversity within our community. Many of our pupils speak more than one language, and we value this as an asset. Learning Spanish enables all pupils to reflect on their own language and culture while developing respect and curiosity for others. It helps children appreciate how language connects people and how multilingualism can open up future opportunities.

Our Spanish curriculum follows the Primary Languages Network (PLN) scheme, providing a carefully sequenced, progressive structure that ensures coverage and challenge across Key Stage 2. The scheme also promotes cultural awareness by introducing pupils to authentic literature, songs, festivals, and traditions from Spanish-speaking countries, helping them see the link between language, culture, and identity.

 

Implementation

Spanish is taught by class teachers and teaching assistants, supported by the subject lead and the PLN scheme. Lessons are planned using the scheme’s detailed resources, including videos, PowerPoints, and audio clips recorded by native speakers. These high-quality materials ensure accurate pronunciation, engaging delivery, and consistent progression across year groups.

In the Early Years and Key Stage 1, children explore global languages and cultures through stories, songs, and celebrations that reflect the diversity of our school community. These experiences lay the groundwork for formal language learning in Key Stage 2, where pupils begin structured lessons in Spanish.

The KS2 curriculum follows a four-stage progression model, with pupils building knowledge and skills each year — from Stage 1 in Year 3 to Stage 4 in Year 6. Early stages focus on key vocabulary, pronunciation, and basic sentence structure, while later stages introduce more complex grammar, reading comprehension, and writing.

A wide range of creative and interactive teaching methods are used to bring language learning to life. Pupils take part in speaking and listening games, songs, role-play, storytelling, and short writing tasks. Activities include actions, rhymes, songs, drama, grammar games, sentence building, and dictionary work — all designed to build confidence and make learning memorable. Written work is recorded in workbooks, though lessons often focus on oral and practical communication skills rather than extended writing.

The PLN scheme is continually updated to reflect current curriculum standards and best practice. Cross-curricular links and cultural references are embedded throughout, helping children connect Spanish learning to other subjects and real-world experiences.

 

Impact

Our Spanish curriculum is designed to ensure clear progression in both linguistic and cultural understanding. Pupils develop skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, as well as a positive attitude toward language learning.

Assessment is ongoing and purposeful. Teachers use formative assessment during lessons to identify misconceptions and provide immediate feedback, often reframing errors positively to encourage pupils to “have a go.” Self-assessment is built into each unit, allowing pupils to reflect on their progress using PLN’s self-assessment clouds.

Three times a year, pupils complete Puzzle It Out assessments, which measure progress across the four key skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The results are recorded and tracked to monitor attainment and identify any gaps that require additional support or consolidation.

Pupils at Co-op Academy Medlock engage enthusiastically with Spanish. They demonstrate growing confidence, curiosity, and pride in their learning, producing high-quality work that reflects their progress. By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils are “secondary ready,” equipped with strong foundations for further language study and a lifelong appreciation for global cultures.

We are proud that our commitment to language learning has been recognised with the Primary Languages Network Transformation Award (2024) — celebrating our success in embedding a vibrant and inclusive Spanish curriculum across the school.