Head of Department: Alica Cervero Fornes

Why We Teach Languages

In today’s increasingly interconnected world, the ability to communicate in multiple languages is more essential than ever. Linguists are highly sought after across both public and private sectors.

At St Paul’s Academy, we prioritise equipping our pupils with the fundamental skills needed to engage with non-English speakers. In keeping with our Catholic ethos, we believe that understanding and communicating with people of diverse backgrounds embodies the values of unity, respect, and compassion. Through language learning, we encourage our pupils to recognise the dignity of every individual, as reflected in Catholic teachings.

Learning a language is not merely an academic exercise but a gateway to broader opportunities and a way of addressing social inequalities. Our commitment to language education as a universal right is reinforced by national data indicating a link between socio-economic challenges and limited language learning opportunities.

Our language programmes foster curiosity and deepen pupils’ understanding of the world by exploring a variety of cultures, histories, literatures, and arts. We challenge our pupils to reflect on their own identity and their connection to others, promoting empathy, appreciation of difference, and a broader worldview—qualities that resonate with our Catholic foundations.

We aim to empower pupils with the confidence and skills necessary for effective communication, focusing on listening, speaking, reading, and writing. By nurturing their linguistic, communicative, and intercultural abilities within a setting guided by faith, we prepare them for lifelong language learning and the responsibility to contribute to a global, collaborative, and peaceful society.

Assessment

In MFL, we assess through...