Spanish

Contact Details

Name

Position

Email
Mr. Ian Sanz Hurst Head of MFL SanzhurstI@hendonschool.co.uk
Mr. José Cabrera Teacher of Spanish CabreraJ@hendonschool.co.uk

 

Students begin their GCSE Spanish course in Year 9 at Hendon. During Key Stage 3, they build strong foundations in the four key language skills – listening, speaking, reading and writing – as well as essential vocabulary and grammar, which prepares them well for GCSE study.

The GCSE course enables students to further develop their linguistic skills while also deepening their understanding of Spanish-speaking cultures around the world. In addition to classroom learning, students benefit from a range of enrichment opportunities, which in previous years have included Spanish theatre performances, film screenings and trips abroad, and we are working to reintroduce these experiences.

At Key Stage 4, we follow the AQA GCSE Spanish (8692) specification. The qualification is assessed at the end of Year 11 through four exams, one in each of the core skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Each exam contributes 25% towards the final GCSE grade.

The course is structured around three key themes:

  • Theme 1: People and lifestyle
  • Theme 2: Popular culture
  • Theme 3: Communication and the world around us 

These themes are taught across Years 9 to 11, alongside regular opportunities to develop exam techniques and revisit core language and grammar, particularly in Year 11. Students are also assessed at the end of each unit in all four skills to monitor progress and support achievement.

Students are entered for either the Foundation tier (grades 1–5) or the Higher tier (grades 4–9), and must take all four exam papers at the same tier.

 

Curriculum Learning Journey:

  Autumn Spring Summer

Year 9

(start of GCSE course)

Theme 1 / Unit 1: Identity and Relationships with others.

 

Theme 2 / Unit 3: Celebrity Culture.

 

Theme 3 / Unit 2: Media and Technology.

Theme 2 / Unit 1 (part 1): Free time activities.

 

 

Theme 2 / Unit 1 (part 2): Free time activities.

End of Year revision.

 
Year 10

 

Theme 1 / Unit 2: Healthy Living and Lifestyle.

Theme 2 / Unit 2: Customs, Festivals and Celebrations.

 

 

Theme 3 / Unit 3 (part 1): Where People Live.

Theme 3 / Unit 3 (part 2): The Environment.

 

Theme 1 / Unit 3 (part 1): Work.

 

End of Year revision and mock exams.

 
Year 11

 

Theme 3 / Unit 1: Travel and Tourism, including places of interest. 

Revision for mock exams. 

 

 

Theme 1 / Unit 3 (part 2): Education.

Revision and exam preparation.

 

Revision and exam preparation.

 

For further information, please visit the AQA Spanish website.

How to Prepare Effectively
Students make the strongest progress when they adopt consistent and focused revision habits. We recommend the following approach:

  • Revise little and often – short, regular sessions of 15–20 minutes each day are far more effective than last-minute cramming.
  • Prioritise core language – focus on learning and revisiting key vocabulary, as well as practising essential verbs across three-time frames (past, present and future).
  • Use a combination of resources – for example, Quizlet is excellent for vocabulary practice. This should be supported with regular exam-style practice to build confidence and technique. 

Developing these habits over time will help students feel more confident and better prepared for their GCSE exams.

Useful Links

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/spanish/gcse/spanish-8692/specification - all course information 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/zjgpg2p - for reviewing essential topic-specific vocabulary and grammar

https://quizlet.com/latest - vocabulary practice on all themes / units. Each year group has an assigned class set.

https://verbstrainer.netlify.app/ - to practice verb conjugation and build confidence and mastery in grammar