Motivating and engaging learners at Key Stage 4
Making the most of the ‘new’ Languages GCSE
As part of our commitment to our partnership schools, we are inviting secondary modern languages mentors, other ML colleagues, ECTs, current trainees and colleagues with an interest in languages to attend this in-person conference which is being offered free of charge as a benefit of partnership.
The conference will have a particular focus on motivating and engaging language learners at Key Stage 4 in the context of the new Modern Languages GCSE in French, German and Spanish. According to the French, German and Spanish GCSE Subject Content (DfE, 2025, p.3):
- Through studying a GCSE in a modern foreign language, students should develop their ability and ambition to communicate independently in speech and writing with speakers of the language for authentic purposes and about subjects which are meaningful and interesting to them
- The study of a modern foreign language at GCSE should also build students’ confidence and broaden their horizons, enabling them to step beyond familiar cultural boundaries, develop new ways of seeing the world, and better understand relationships between the foreign language and the English language
- It is important that students following a GCSE course should become familiar with aspects of the contexts and cultures of the countries and communities where the language is spoken. Linguistic content may be developed through a range of broad themes and topics which have, for example, cultural, geographical, political, contemporary, historical or employment-related relevance
We will be joined by Alice Harrison who is the Languages Subject Lead at the Oak National Academy. Alice is a highly experienced languages educator who has worked in education for over 30 years as a middle and senior leader in schools in the Northwest and has contributed to several national projects. Alice will share some of the materials which have been developed to support the teaching of languages at Key Stage 4 in the context of the new GCSE with a particular focus on making language learning real and relevant. A particular focus will be on how these can be adapted in local contexts.
We will also be joined by Dawn Piper, Coordinator of Languages at Littleover Community School in Derby, who is a specialist teacher for the Derwent Languages Hub which is part of the National Consortium for Languages Education (NCLE). Dawn will talk about some of the work she has been involved in with local partnership schools and evidence informed classroom practice to support high quality language learning at KS4 which is relevant to both the AQA and Edexcel GCSE specifications as well as further collaborative opportunities in the upcoming academic year and beyond.
For the Show and Tell section we welcome short contributions (5 minutes – one slide) from teachers willing to share an idea, resource, or activity related to teaching languages at KS4 which makes language learning meaningful, interesting and relevant and enables learners to become familiar with aspects of the contexts and cultures of the countries and communities where the language is spoken. If you would like to contribute to the Show and Tell please contact Lesley Hagger-Vaughan.
During the afternoon we will be announcing the results of the annual Literature, Poetry and Song Competition and sharing some of the creative entries from language learners in our ITE Partnership of schools. The competition, which is open to pupils in Key Stages 3 and 4, aims to encourage creative and innovative practice to engage learners in language learning.
This regional conference offers an excellent opportunity for research informed subject-specific professional development for ECTs, language teachers and Heads of Languages in our ITE Partnership of schools. Participants will have an opportunity to:
- engage in professional dialogue relating to the teaching at KS4
- share ideas and practical classroom strategies which make language learning relevant and real
- network with language educators from across the region
- participate in collaborative ‘curriculum making’ at a local level
- find out about the LERG resources repository for local language teachers
Refreshments will be available from 1.30pm.