The Languages department at Wallingford School aims to provide all students with the knowledge and skills they need to become able linguists and lifelong language learners. During MFL lessons we teach students to develop the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing as well as a sound knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and phonics rules which ensures they make strong progress and become increasingly more confident about using the language in both spoken and written forms.

From Sept 2025 all students entering the school start with either Spanish or German in Year 7 and they will all pick up French as a second language in Year 8 and study two languages in Year 8 and 9. We offer all students the chance to travel to France in Year 8. A great many students continue with one language at GCSE and we have an increasing number of dual linguists. Both French and German are offered at A-level.

We welcome students who come to the school already proficient in a foreign language and we are happy to facilitate an early GCSE where appropriate. 

We are fortunate to have a French and German Foreign Language Assistant on the MFL team and they offer individual conversation practice to all our A-Level linguists. 

Outside the classroom we offer a variety of competitions and events, such as Speed Language Learning for European Day of Languages, Duolingo language learning competitions and the Oxford German Network Sixth Form Kneipenquiz at Radley College. We also have close links to Oxford University and regularly take part in events such as the Year 9 Languages afternoon at Queen’s College, the year 12 Literature Masterclass and A-level Study Day at the Department of Education.

We believe that using the target language in real-life scenarios is essential and to this end we offer students the opportunity to travel to France and Germany on Exchanges with our partner schools in Grenoble (year 10 and year 12) and Bad Wurzach (year 9, 10 and 12). Over time we will be developing a similar Exchange to Spain. These visits also broaden our students’ cultural awareness and help them to develop tolerance, resilience and independence.

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