German

IGCSE:

Grade 9-8 = 54%    Grade 9-7 = 85%     Grade 9 -4 = 100%

A Level:

A*-A =50%  A*-B = 100%

Learning German in Years 7 and 9 , we follow the new Stimmt course and in Year 8 we are using Echo Express for the final time. Year 7 enjoy a 6-7 week introductory German course. They then choose the two  languages they would like to learn from January. Years 8 and 9 pupils receive 5 periods of teaching per fortnight. Class sizes vary from 12 – 25. 

IGCSE German in Years 10 and 11: pupils follow the Pearson Edexcel Examination Board. The topics covered are: ‘Home and Abroad’, ‘Education and Employment’ and ‘Personal Life and Relationships’, 'The World Around Us' and 'Social Activities, Fitness and Health'. Assessment takes place at the end of Year 11 in each of the four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking.  At KS4, pupils receive 6 periods of teaching per fortnight and all pupils benefit from the help of a native Language Assistant. 

A Level German in Years 12 and 13: A minimum of Grade 7 at GCSE is recommended to embark on German A Level. The AQA course is followed. Class sizes in Years 12 and 13 are often small; hence students receive an excellent level of individual tuition. All students benefit from additional weekly lessons with the Language Assistant, which are devoted to development of speaking skills. At A Level, the topics covered include current issues, politics, multiculturalism and artistic culture. At the end of Year 13, students undertake a speaking exam and two written papers; Paper 1 covers listening, reading and writing and Paper 2 is an essay paper based on the study of a cultural topic. The oral examination lasts about 20 minutes in total and includes a presentation based on an individual research project. 

We run a highly successful programme of extra-curricular activities. In November 2016 our Y13 Germanists won the North West Schools Debating Competition. We are hoping to return to our programme of trips to Germany, including a German experience for younger pupils and a traditional exchange with our partner school Gymnasium Salvatorkolleg, in Bad Wurzach. 

We regularly host guest speakers, who give a diverse range of lectures and workshops, ranging from German Film, to Grammar, Linguistics and preparation for Oxbridge. We actively promote student-led learning by organising events that allow older pupils to engage with younger pupils in the Foundation, such as story-telling sessions and plays. 

In KS4, Stammtisch is a regular lunchtime German Workshop for pupils to meet up with KS5 Germanists. Previous workshops have included sessions on Idiomatic Phrases, Pronunciation, and Cracking Compounds. For Sixth Formers we run a weekly break-time speaking club, Kaffeekränzchen, and a fortnightly A04 Klub in which our German Assistant gives a mini-lecture on an A Level topic. 

German combines well with all subjects at GCSE and A Level. At university level there are a vast array of degree courses combining German with other disciplines, such as Science and Medicine, Engineering, Law, Business, History and, of course, other languages. German is highly regarded by universities; it is a facilitating subject and having German skills makes you a very employable graduate, particularly in areas such as scientific research, electronics, aerospace, computing, law, export/import and tourism. The British Council noted in their 'Languages for the Future' report that 45% of UK businesses rate German as the most sought-after language in employees, yet only 6% of the UK adult population possesses a working level of the language. This will surely give our pupils with German a distinct advantage in the future.