Languages Faculty
‘a bonis ad meliora’ – from good to better
Here at The Croft, the Languages Faculty subjects complement each other by holding communication at the heart of their learning. Collaboration and interaction within the Faculty allows us, as a team, to deliver a curriculum that nurtures and improves young learners through the aspirations of knowledge-rich, subject leaders.
Language is fundamental to the learning process. Each subject has its own unique language. How it interrogates and explores that is, then, its own manual for learning. No one language is exclusive, and our aim is to engage children who are inquisitive, creative and independent lifelong learners.
As Head of Languages, I am committed to ensuring the success of our department. Leading and developing new initiatives as well as promoting the highest quality of teaching we expect at The Croft. This then makes certain that all children at The Croft lead the way into the future, skilled in all kinds of languages, to go out into the world and engage with it.
English
The English Department is dedicated to cultivating a lifelong love of literature, language, and critical thinking. We strive to empower students with the skills to read perceptively, write persuasively, and communicate with confidence and creativity. Through a diverse and rigorous curriculum, we encourage intellectual curiosity, cultural awareness, and a deep appreciation for the power of words.
Our goal is to prepare students not only for academic excellence but also for thoughtful engagement in an ever-evolving world. By fostering analytical minds and empathetic perspectives, we equip our students to become articulate, informed, and responsible global citizens who can shape the future with clarity and purpose.
Modern Foreign Languages (MFL)
By studying an additional language from a young age, as we offer here at The Croft, we are equipping our youngest students with skills to boost their brain power for life and become better learners, not just in MFL lessons. Bilingualism helps our brains to learn and function. By creating new experiences – through song, games and a range of different activities across the curriculum – we not only broaden horizons, but we continually give our brains a workout. (Science has shown that learning another language protects older learners against degenerative neurological conditions!)
We help our students at The Croft to build resilience from an early age, continually learning from the mistakes that we accept as part of the language-learning process. We strive to create confident learners and communicators - students who actively engage in paired and class discussion, and who listen carefully when collaborating with their peers. We embrace learning about new cultures as part of our lessons; increasing students’ cultural capital is vital in improving empathy and tolerance within any society and thus, we help to equip our students with important skills required to thrive throughout their lives.
Latin
All Year 6 children learn Latin, using the engaging Cambridge 'Minimus' course, which focuses on life at the Roman fort at Vindolanda.
Our studies include Roman Britain, Roman and Greek myths, as well as language study. Led by Minimus the Mouse, the children learn basic Latin grammar and vocabulary, through stories featuring a real Vindolandan family.
The children use their ICT skills to make Latin birthday cards and menus, as well as investigating and researching Latin roots and mottos. We even try some Roman recipes!
