At St Ives we believe that learning languages is a life skill that enriches the curriculum in many ways.
As well as creating an awareness of a different culture, the knowledge gained by studying another language makes a significant contribution to the development of children’s oracy, literacy and understanding of their own culture.
At St Ives, French is taught from Nursery to Year 6 and Spanish is taught from Year 3 to Year 6. We also offer an after-school Italian club. All lessons are taught by subject specialists who use games, songs, rhymes and role-playing to make learning a language fun and engaging. In Pre-Prep, language learning is mostly oral, and we focus on listening and speaking skills. From Year 3 onwards, pupils begin to develop their reading skills and more focus in placed on the written form of the language.
To enhance the language curriculum further we also offer a number of excursions including theatre and cinema trips. Every two years, the Year 5 and Year 6 pupils also have the opportunity to spend a week in France. Pupils take part in a wide range of exciting activities designed to help them to practise the language, gain a deeper cultural understanding and, most importantly, have fun!