The Department of Modern Languages occupies adjacent rooms in the central part of Level 2 of the main building. All rooms benefit from an interactive white board and access to recording equipment.   The main language offered is French, but the department also offers some German.

Mrs Schmidtke has been Head of Modern Languages since 2003, whilst Miss Hood as Second in Department exercises responsibility for the oversight of German.   Mr Thompson is one of the South Tyneside’s Advanced Skills Teachers, and one of two in Hebburn Comprehensive.   He undertakes liaison work with primary feeder schools, as well as supporting the development of Teaching and Learning within the school as a whole.   Miss Jardat, one of our two native speakers, works part-time.  Mr Anderson, the Head Teacher and Mr Perez, one of our Assistant Heads, both teach in the department.

At Key Stage 3, all pupils study French, and a few take German; currently, both subjects are offered as optional subjects for GCSE.   Results in Key Stage 4 are good, and the department is rightly proud of its “fast-track” programme for entering some pupils for GCSE at the end of Year 9.   In 2007, forty pupils passed GCSE two years early, the most common result being a grade B – a phenomenal level of achievement by the pupils.

The department concentrates on developing competence in all language communication skills, and uses a range of methodologies.   Much use is made of interactive Flash Media resources, and pupils enjoy immensely the opportunity to learn through games of this nature.

Additional classes are offered for pupils studying a language to GCSE, whether that be in Key Stage 3 or in Key Stage 4 and the annual visit to Disneyland Paris provides opportunities to pupils who wish to practise their language skills whilst enjoying a holiday