It is beyond GCSE that the study of a foreign language comes into its own. The IB Diploma enables us to offer a range of courses in all three languages, from Ab Initio (beginners) to Higher Level. All boys study at least one modern or classical language as part of their Diploma. The Standard and Higher Level courses in French, German and Spanish provide the opportunity not only to improve and expand on language skills but also to study a fascinating range of topics. From the outset, boys will encounter the language as it is used in real life in authentic texts and by native speakers. They will test their wits and skills in unfamiliar territory and begin to explore society, literature, current affairs, song, cinema, theatre, history and geography through the prism of another language and culture. The Ab Initio courses in French, German or Spanish introduce boys to a new language and take them to a level comparable to GCSE in just five terms. The focus is on learning to perform more basic, functional tasks than those encountered at Standard or Higher Levels, but the pace is just as demanding. By the end of the Diploma, boys should be able to speak the language well enough to start exploring it for themselves and develop their competence further if they need to. Our exam results are amongst the best in the country at all levels and our very best linguists go on to study modern languages at top universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.