Impressive A Level and GCSE Languages results at Pocklington School show top grades are still achievable, despite national trends showing language study is in decline. Hard work and dedication from staff and students alike is the key.

In 2018, 100% of the School’s A level French students achieved A* or A, and in both Spanish and Latin, 100% of students achieved grades A*-B.

A number of the languages students who went on to university have chosen to continue to study a language, with degree subjects including French with English, Japanese Studies and History, as well as International Business with Spanish, at a variety of universities including Durham, Birmingham and Nottingham Trent. Many OPs are using languages to further their careers in fields including Law, Finance, Education and the Civil Service.

At a national level, the number of students sitting German and French A levels have gone into steep decline, with a 45% fall in students taking German since 2010 and an average 15% fall in students taking modern languages during the same period.

But the study of languages is still thriving at Pocklington School. All students take at least two languages in the Lower School and then one language to GCSE level at least. Every year, several students study more than one language GCSE.

At GCSE this summer, one student achieved the almost unique feat of the top Grade 9 in each of French, German and Spanish, which as an English native speaker is particularly impressive. Another student achieved Grade 9 in French and also in German, which she took as an extra subject with staff support.

David Galloway, Head of Modern Languages, said: “Languages at Pocklington School are thriving – and it’s a direct result of the hard work both pupils and staff put in. We offer extra sessions and oral practice, often with native speakers, for those pupils who think they need it and I’m delighted that they do pay off. “

Teachers take every opportunity to bring languages ‘to life,’ and trips abroad play a big part in the Languages curriculum. An annual Second Year trip to Paris and a long-running German exchange programme with Alfeld in Lower Saxony are both very successful, as is a regular GCSE study trip to Spain.

The School also supports students who wish to study other languages, with students taking exams in Portuguese, Italian, Russian and Polish over recent years.