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 & Translation (40% of A Level, 2 hours) In the listening section of this exam students have individual control of the recording. All questions will be in Italian and will be answered with non-verbal responses or in Italian. 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 final element of this examination requires students to translate into English. Paper 2: Written response to works and translation (30% of A Level, 2 hours and 40 minutes) In Section A of this paper students must translate one unseen text into Italian. For Section B pupils must write two essays. If they have studied one literary text and one film, pupils must write one essay on the text (from a choice of two essay questions) and one on the film (again, from a choice of two questions). Alternatively, if they have studied two set texts, they will be required to write one essay on each set text (again, from a choice of two questions for 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 in Italian and approximately 300 – 350 words. Paper 3: Speaking (30% of A Level, 21-23 minutes long, including five minutes preparation time) This exam is split into Tasks 1 and 2. Task 1 is a discussion based on a stimulus card (6-7 minutes), relating to one of the themes studied. Pupils study the card for five minutes in the preparation period. There is a short discussion based on the questions from the stimulus card, followed by a broader discussion of the overarching theme. Task 2 comprises a two-minute presentation and discussion, lasting 10–11 minutes, of an individual research project on a topic of the student’s choosing.
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 & Translation (40% of A Level, 2 hours) In the listening section of this exam students have individual control of the recording. All questions will be in Italian and will be answered with non-verbal responses or in Italian. 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 final element of this examination requires students to translate into English. Paper 2: Written response to works and translation (30% of A Level, 2 hours and 40 minutes) In Section A of this paper students must translate one unseen text into Italian. For Section B pupils must write two essays. If they have studied one literary text and one film, pupils must write one essay on the text (from a choice of two essay questions) and one on the film (again, from a choice of two questions). Alternatively, if they have studied two set texts, they will be required to write one essay on each set text (again, from a choice of two questions for 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 in Italian and approximately 300 – 350 words. Paper 3: Speaking (30% of A Level, 21-23 minutes long, including five minutes preparation time) This exam is split into Tasks 1 and 2. Task 1 is a discussion based on a stimulus card (6-7 minutes), relating to one of the themes studied. Pupils study the card for five minutes in the preparation period. There is a short discussion based on the questions from the stimulus card, followed by a broader discussion of the overarching theme. Task 2 comprises a two-minute presentation and discussion, lasting 10–11 minutes, of an individual research project on a topic of the student’s choosing.