Everyone knows what English is - right? At HHVCS we aim to make English as fun and engaging as possible in order to fully develop the language and literacy skills of all pupils.

In Year 7, we will develop reading, writing and oracy through a variety of different topics. We will look at elements of Literature when we read and study The Boy in The Striped Pyjamas and Shakespeare's The Tempest. We will take an in-depth look at Language and develop our public speaking when we study Superheroes, considering what it means to be a hero and whether all heroes really do wear capes.

We have a varied approach to learning in the English department - some lessons will be quiet and focused, whilst others will be outrageously loud and energetic! Whatever happens, we ensure all learners fully engage with their English lessons and make solid progress as they move through the school.

Cymraeg is one of the areas of Communications where all pupils continue their journey from primary school right through to a full course GCSE qualification in Year 11.

In Years 7-9 all pupils learn about a broad spectrum of topics e.g. Healthy lifestyle, holidays, leisure time and smart choices.

In Year 7, pupils will extend their knowledge of using different tenses, asking different questions and a range of sentence structures. There is equal focus on speaking, reading and writing in Welsh and lessons are aimed at developing all skills.

Lessons are interactive and engaging using games such as Task Magic & Plickers.

All pupils will have the opportunity to study French and Spanish in KS3. We start with the basics in each language and by the end of KS3 pupils will have the ability to have useful conversations in both languages by sharing information, ideas and asking important questions.

Our aim is for pupils to be confident communicators in French and Spanish and to have an awareness of French- and Spanish-speaking countries around the world, and their cultures. Pupils will also appreciate the importance of language learning in the global community we live in.

In year 7 all pupils will study French. We start with the alphabet, numbers, days and months. We then move on to describing Family (including pets!), then school and Celebrations. You will start to learn different sentence structures and tenses and think about the connections between French, English and Welsh.

You will develop skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing and will gain confidence working with others and communicating. You will use iPads to record yourself and play language games in class. You will also use drama and role play and listen to lots of authentic French resources.