This course is a two year course. The course begins in Year 10, during which you will further develop your skills in listening, speaking, reading, writing, translation and application of grammar.
The course is only available to pupils who have studied Spanish through in KS3.
What the course involves
The Spanish GCSE offers students the opportunity to develop their Spanish language skills to their full potential, equipping them with knowledge and confidence they can use both in and outside of the classroom.
The importance of attracting students of all abilities to languages is a high priority and at The Herewoode Academy, we are following a new specification (with first exams in 2025) developed by the exam board to aspire and engaged our students. We know that the culture of the wider Spanish-speaking world is one of the aspects of language learning which excites students and brings the subject alive. Therefore, this course will help build students cultural knowledge alongside their language skills.
The specification cover three distinct themes. These themes apply to all four question papers.
Theme 1: People and lifestyle
Theme 2: Popular culture
Theme 3: Communication and the world around us
You will take four exams at the end of Year 11. The weightings are as follows:
We ask that you purchase a Spanish revision guide from the college that will help support your studies. You will be set up with a free kerboodle account, with which you can access homework and resources to practise listening and reading skills.
Career opportunities
The Spanish GCSE is highly regarded by colleges, universities and employers. Having a GCSE in a foreign language, therefore, can provide a gateway to a wide variety of A-level and degree courses both with and without a language, such as Law, Business, Economics, Travel and Tourism, Education, Translating and Interpreting. Furthermore, employees with a language qualification are more likely to earn a higher salary than those without. According to a study by the British Council, Spanish has emerged as the most important language in the UK due to the emerging economies of the Americas creating work and business opportunities for Spanish speakers.
Post-16 opportunities
The Spanish GCSE will help prepare you for your studies after your GCSEs, no matter what you go on to study. The top three advantages of studying a language are: better decision making skills, increased attention span and increased ability to multitask. Furthermore, you will often experience what studying a language at A-Level involves.