The Modern Languages Department at Christ College offers students the chance to study French throughout the school, Second-Language Welsh in Forms 1 – 5, and Spanish from Form 3 upwards. It also offers those with Welsh as a first language, the opportunity to gain a GCSE qualification in this subject.

French is a compulsory subject for all pupils in Forms 1-3; these pupils also choose between Welsh and Spanish at KS3.  At the beginning of Form 4, all pupils are strongly encouraged to continue with at least one foreign language as they embark upon their GCSE courses. Pupils are entered for the AQA examination in both French and Spanish at GCSE. Those who study GCSE Welsh (first language or second language) are entered for examination with the WJEC board. It is a qualification which is valued by most employers in Wales.

At AS and A2, we follow the WJEC Specification. Students are encouraged to use the Internet and department resources as extensively as possible in order to pursue their own, individual research, and to keep abreast of current affairs in the foreign country. At A2 students are offered a range of regional, literary or film studies as they embark upon a written coursework assignment. The study of literature is no longer compulsory but is, nevertheless, highly recommended for any student who is keen to pursue the study of languages at University level, especially at Oxford or Cambridge.

A number of cinema and theatre trips, language days, conferences and university open days are organised each year, in addition to foreign visits and exchanges.

At present, the majority of the Spanish teaching within the department is undertaken by Clare Collins, who is also Head of Department. The French teaching is delivered by Jennifer Green, and Colyn Andras teaches Welsh throughout the school. We also have two Foreign Language Assistants each year (one French and one Spanish) who assist with the teaching of junior groups, and offer weekly one-to-one conversation classes to sixth form language students.

Clare Collins (Head of MFL/Spanish)
Jennifer Green (French)
Colyn Andras (Welsh)

Contact: clare.collins@christcollegebrecon.com;