Spanish

¡Hola! Why do we teach Spanish at Sikh Heritage Girls School?

What if your child could speak to millions more people around the world? What if learning another language not only expanded their vocabulary—but also their horizons? At Sikh Heritage Girls School, we believe language learning is about connection, confidence and curiosity. Spanish opens the door to global cultures, future careers, and deeper understanding of how language works.

We want our pupils to feel proud of their multilingual identity and excited about discovering new ways to communicate. Whether your child speaks one language or several at home, learning Spanish enriches their worldview and nurtures empathy. It's about more than grammar and greetings—it's about learning to listen, speak up, and step into someone else's shoes.

Intent: What are we aiming for?

Our Spanish curriculum supports pupils to:

  • Develop confidence in speaking, listening, reading and writing in Spanish.

  • Understand and appreciate Spanish-speaking cultures and communities.

  • Make connections between Spanish and English grammar, vocabulary and phonics.

  • Build the foundations for further language learning in senior schools and beyond.

  • Experience joy in language learning—celebrating progress, effort and expression.

We follow the Language Angels scheme to ensure high-quality, progressive language teaching from Year 1. It supports our teachers and provides a strong structure for pupils to develop vocabulary, pronunciation and fluency over time.

Implementation: How do we bring this to life?

Spanish is taught weekly in both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, using a spiral approach that revisits and deepens prior learning. Lessons are highly interactive, involving songs, games, role play, and cultural exploration. Pupils develop vocabulary and sentence structure through stories, speaking activities, and writing tasks. Accurate pronunciation is modelled and practised consistently.

We ensure equity in language learning by providing scaffolding, visuals, and repetition to support all learners. Pupils with SEND access adapted resources and targeted support, while multilingual pupils are encouraged to draw on their home languages to deepen their understanding. We make language learning accessible to every child—because we believe it is a right, not a reward.

Cross-curricular links are made with geography, music, RE, and PSHE, helping pupils to see the relevance of Spanish across the curriculum. Our teaching reflects our values of curiosity, compassion, and confidence. We model a growth mindset: mistakes are part of learning and every child’s effort is celebrated.

Impact: What does success look like?

By the time pupils leave us, they:

  • Communicate basic ideas in Spanish with growing accuracy and confidence.

  • Show an understanding of Spanish grammar, vocabulary and culture.

  • Speak positively about learning languages and feel prepared for continued study.

  • See language learning as a skill for life—with links to careers in travel, diplomacy, education, international business, interpreting, healthcare, and beyond.

At Sikh Heritage Girls School, we are born to love, live to do—and that includes engaging joyfully with the wider world through language.

Reference

Bialystok, E. (2011). Reshaping the mind: The benefits of bilingualism. Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology, 65(4), 229–235.