Chinese, French, German, Italian and Spanish are all offered at A Level and we regularly welcome dual linguists into the Department as well as those choosing to study one language. As the university and jobs markets become ever more competitive, being armed with the skill of a foreign language helps to really set you apart from the crowd. A language can literally take you anywhere and will be useful whether you want to be a lawyer, astronaut, businesswoman or engineer. Some of our pupils go on to read Modern Languages as a discipline at university but many also go on to study a language alongside another subject, such as Politics, Business or a variety of STEM subjects. A Level language courses aim to enable pupils: • To speak the language with a good level of fluency. • To understand native speakers and be able to manage in an environment solely in the target language. • To write accurately and idiomatically in the target language. • To take an interest in the culture and traditions of the countries where the language is spoken. • To develop an interest in the literature and cinema of the countries where the language is spoken. Where possible, those studying a language in the Sixth Form are encouraged to spend some time during their holidays in the country where the language is spoken (either through staying with a family, work experience, or language courses). The MFL Department is very keen to assist pupils with organising this and there will also likely be trips available for certain languages. To make real progress in a foreign language at A Level, it is important that pupils engage with the language outside of lesson time. All pupils will have a weekly speaking practice session with one of our fantastic native-speaker assistants. It will also be important to keep up with the news in the language, listen to music/watch shows in the language, and get involved with the department’s in-house activities (trips, talks, cultural events etc).
For 16+ entry into our Sixth Form, your daughter will be required to sit three examination papers during the first week of November in the year prior to entry. Two of these papers are in subjects which your daughter is currently studying, or which she wishes to study in the Sixth Form at Downe House, as well as a General paper. These examinations are usually taken at your daughter’s current school and practice papers are available on request. Candidates are required to achieve a minimum of seven I/GCSE examinations at Grade 6 (B) or above, preferably with Grade 9/8 (A*) in those subjects she wishes to study in the Sixth Form. If your daughter does not follow an education system with formal examinations at 16+, further testing may be required and a transcript of grades acquired from their previous school. On completion of examination papers, successful candidates will be invited for an interview by the Head of Sixth Form and the Headmistress at the end of November. Offers will be made in December. There are also a number of scholarships available for pupils joining the Sixth Form. We strongly recommend early registration for your daughter. All offers and places are completed by April of the year prior to entry and availability of places in our Sixth Form is very limited.
Paper 1: Listening, Reading & Writing (40% of A Level, 2 hours 30 minutes) In the listening section of this exam, students have individual control of the recording. All questions will be in German and will be answered with non-verbal responses or in German. The reading paper comprises short target-language and non-verbal responses to texts. For both reading and listening authentic source material will be used and questions will target main points, gist and detail. The written component of this examination requires students to translate into English and into German. Each passage for translation will be a minimum of 100 words. In this paper, as well as grammar, aspects of Germanspeaking society, current issues and trends, political life and artistic culture in the German-speaking world are all assessed. Paper 2: Writing (30% of A Level, 2 hours) Students must answer one question in German on a set text from a choice of two questions and one question in German on a set film from a choice of two questions or two questions in German on set texts from a choice of two questions on each text. Students will be required to demonstrate a critical appreciation of the concepts and issues covered in the work and a critical and analytical response to features such as the form and the technique of presentation, as appropriate to the work studied (for example the effect of narrative voice in a prose text or camera work in a film). Students will not be allowed access to the texts or films during the assessment. Each essay must be approximately 300 words. Paper 3: Speaking (30% of A Level, 21-23 minutes long, including five minutes preparation time) This exam is split into two sections. Part 1 is a discussion based on a stimulus card (5–6 minutes). Students study the card for five minutes at the start of the test. This is followed by a two minute presentation and discussion lasting 9-10 minutes of an individual research project on a topic of the student’s choosing, based on any aspect of German-speaking culture. Students should identify a subject or a key question which is of interest to them and which relates to a country or countries where German is spoken.
About Education Provider
| Region | South East |
| Local Authority | West Berkshire |
| Ofsted Rating | |
| Gender Type | Girls |
| ISI Report | View Report |
| Boarding Fee | £47,760 |
| Sixth Form Fee | Day £35,520 |
| Address | Cold Ash, Thatcham, RG18 9JJ |
Chinese, French, German, Italian and Spanish are all offered at A Level and we regularly welcome dual linguists into the Department as well as those choosing to study one language. As the university and jobs markets become ever more competitive, being armed with the skill of a foreign language helps to really set you apart from the crowd. A language can literally take you anywhere and will be useful whether you want to be a lawyer, astronaut, businesswoman or engineer. Some of our pupils go on to read Modern Languages as a discipline at university but many also go on to study a language alongside another subject, such as Politics, Business or a variety of STEM subjects. A Level language courses aim to enable pupils: • To speak the language with a good level of fluency. • To understand native speakers and be able to manage in an environment solely in the target language. • To write accurately and idiomatically in the target language. • To take an interest in the culture and traditions of the countries where the language is spoken. • To develop an interest in the literature and cinema of the countries where the language is spoken. Where possible, those studying a language in the Sixth Form are encouraged to spend some time during their holidays in the country where the language is spoken (either through staying with a family, work experience, or language courses). The MFL Department is very keen to assist pupils with organising this and there will also likely be trips available for certain languages. To make real progress in a foreign language at A Level, it is important that pupils engage with the language outside of lesson time. All pupils will have a weekly speaking practice session with one of our fantastic native-speaker assistants. It will also be important to keep up with the news in the language, listen to music/watch shows in the language, and get involved with the department’s in-house activities (trips, talks, cultural events etc).
For 16+ entry into our Sixth Form, your daughter will be required to sit three examination papers during the first week of November in the year prior to entry. Two of these papers are in subjects which your daughter is currently studying, or which she wishes to study in the Sixth Form at Downe House, as well as a General paper. These examinations are usually taken at your daughter’s current school and practice papers are available on request. Candidates are required to achieve a minimum of seven I/GCSE examinations at Grade 6 (B) or above, preferably with Grade 9/8 (A*) in those subjects she wishes to study in the Sixth Form. If your daughter does not follow an education system with formal examinations at 16+, further testing may be required and a transcript of grades acquired from their previous school. On completion of examination papers, successful candidates will be invited for an interview by the Head of Sixth Form and the Headmistress at the end of November. Offers will be made in December. There are also a number of scholarships available for pupils joining the Sixth Form. We strongly recommend early registration for your daughter. All offers and places are completed by April of the year prior to entry and availability of places in our Sixth Form is very limited.
Paper 1: Listening, Reading & Writing (40% of A Level, 2 hours 30 minutes) In the listening section of this exam, students have individual control of the recording. All questions will be in German and will be answered with non-verbal responses or in German. The reading paper comprises short target-language and non-verbal responses to texts. For both reading and listening authentic source material will be used and questions will target main points, gist and detail. The written component of this examination requires students to translate into English and into German. Each passage for translation will be a minimum of 100 words. In this paper, as well as grammar, aspects of Germanspeaking society, current issues and trends, political life and artistic culture in the German-speaking world are all assessed. Paper 2: Writing (30% of A Level, 2 hours) Students must answer one question in German on a set text from a choice of two questions and one question in German on a set film from a choice of two questions or two questions in German on set texts from a choice of two questions on each text. Students will be required to demonstrate a critical appreciation of the concepts and issues covered in the work and a critical and analytical response to features such as the form and the technique of presentation, as appropriate to the work studied (for example the effect of narrative voice in a prose text or camera work in a film). Students will not be allowed access to the texts or films during the assessment. Each essay must be approximately 300 words. Paper 3: Speaking (30% of A Level, 21-23 minutes long, including five minutes preparation time) This exam is split into two sections. Part 1 is a discussion based on a stimulus card (5–6 minutes). Students study the card for five minutes at the start of the test. This is followed by a two minute presentation and discussion lasting 9-10 minutes of an individual research project on a topic of the student’s choosing, based on any aspect of German-speaking culture. Students should identify a subject or a key question which is of interest to them and which relates to a country or countries where German is spoken.