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25/03/25

Preparations are well underway! Don't miss out- get your tickets and joins us at HASU on Wednesday 26th or Thursday 27th March for spectacular production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! See you all there! pic.twitter.com/LlK3XUXppa

19/03/25

Team 622 (28372) mentoring the team. Sharing their passion for building the STEM pipeline 😀 pic.twitter.com/1RycVqfA0L

19/03/25

🥉 Huge congratulations to our Year 7 Netball Team for finishing 3rd place at their residential tournament!👏🏐 An amazing achievement—well done to all the players for their hard work, teamwork, and dedication! 🎉💪#HASU pic.twitter.com/5FEyA6zEql

18/03/25

We had an excellent morning taking part in the regional heat. Very happy to come away as winners of the participation prize! pic.twitter.com/KP51RfU40Z

18/03/25

Team HASU & The Booklets are ready to quiz! pic.twitter.com/lGrIrXVe12

13/03/25

Congratulations to our winning Y12 team who together with East Dulwich students won the LSE Generate Enterprise Competition at the London School of Economics!👏 Their hard work and innovation have earned them an internship at LSE. Well done!#HASU pic.twitter.com/uf5F4In34c

11/03/25

Congratulations to our Scholars! Well done to Elizabeth and Raghav for being awarded the prestigious Arkwright Scholarship after a rigorous six-month process, showcasing their outstanding talent and dedication to engineering and design.We are incredibly proud!#ArkwrightScholars pic.twitter.com/7SWHMrYNcX

10/03/25

Last Wednesday,a team of Y10 students represented HASU in Physics Tournament .The event challenged students with a range of physics-based activities, including a practical experiment on simple harmonic motion and problem-solving tasks. It was a memorable experience pic.twitter.com/oxPko00pPg

06/03/25

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06/03/25

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06/03/25

Epic costumes from teachers pic.twitter.com/SLc31bnmhs

06/03/25

Here we go.! Years 7, 8 and 9 pic.twitter.com/hElH5qDBNQ

06/03/25

We have lots of fantastic costumes on show today - watch this space....! pic.twitter.com/g92NrKNFZb

05/03/25

Year 7 had a fantastic morning with learning about Nigeria, Onyeka and her friends and the superheroes who inspired them. The fun continued in the library with a book signing. pic.twitter.com/yIpHcG0iNt

05/03/25

🎤 On Monday, two Y10 pupils, Ramya and Ibrahim, represented HASU at the Sutton Regional Final of the Petchey Speak competition! They earned their spots in the final, showcasing powerful storytelling. We’re so proud of their achievements—well done!👏#SpeakOutChallenge pic.twitter.com/PXnQZPnCdw

03/03/25

Great afternoon with who spoke passionately to our Year 10s about the importance and power of storytelling. Sam also introduced us to her YA horror ‘Girls of Little Hope’. Story telling then continued with a group of students in a creative writing workshop. pic.twitter.com/I34VRsjQTn

28/02/25

We are proud to share that HASU is the TOP non-selective school in Sutton for Progress! We’re also ranked 49th nationally among all non-selective, co-educational schools for Progress 8.This is a testament to our students' hard work and dedication!#HASU pic.twitter.com/pdd9m6qRW3

28/02/25

We are so excited to be welcoming to to speak to Year 10 on Monday 3rd March in celebration of Pupils can pre order 'Girls of Little Hope' to have signed by Sam on the day. Speak to Ms Lock for more information 🤩 pic.twitter.com/VpA0OzWVeS

26/02/25

Product Design students met Gibsons to start a collaborative project. Gibsons described the aspects of designing, manufacturing and selling puzzles/games & job roles involved. We saw samples and discussed problems they've had to solve in developing games. Thank you Emily & Kate. pic.twitter.com/Hs77ellnaZ

26/02/25

We are so excited to be welcoming to to speak to Year 7 on Wednesday 5th March in celebration of . Pupils can pre order 'Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun' to have signed by Tola on the day. Speak to Ms Lock for more information 🤩 pic.twitter.com/yfgS5dVJI9

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Spanish

What is Spanish? 

Spanish at Harris Academy Sutton is the study of the Spanish language and culture.  Through learning Spanish, we promote students’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of different countries’ peoples, culture, history, literature and art whilst developing their ability to communicate effectively and comprehend the language.   

Why do we teach Spanish? 

Languages provide a gateway to other cultures and the world around us. Learning a foreign language takes learners on a voyage of discovery and provides an opening to other cultures. 

With more than 437 million native speakers, across twenty-one countries, Spanish is one of the most important languages in the world. Therefore, learning a language such as Spanish opens many doors for the learners.

Through our comprehensive language’s curriculum at Harris Academy Sutton, we: 

  • develop students’ understanding of themselves socially and in the context of an international environment as well as provide enjoyment and intellectual stimulation. 
  • enable pupils to communicate effectively and confidently in the foreign language. 
  • inspire pupils to extend and pursue language learning outside the classroom. 
  • prepare our pupils to be competent global citizens through their knowledge of languages and appreciation of foreign cultures.  

How do we teach Spanish at Key Stage 3? 

Our teachers are committed to develop our students’ literacy through the ability to use language effectively for purposes of practical communication; to offer insights into the culture and civilisation of countries where the language is spoken; to encourage positive attitudes to foreign language learning and to speakers of foreign languages. 

When students arrive at our school, they have had a variety of different experiences in relation to their learning of a Modern Foreign Language. Therefore, the department of Languages and Culture at Harris Academy Sutton offers all students the opportunity to study Spanish, regardless of their level of achievement. 

Teaching is focused on developing the pupils’ competence in listening, speaking, reading and writing, based on a foundation of core grammar and vocabulary. At KS3, all students are encouraged to form a sound base of the skills, language and attitudes required for further study and practical implementation as they move into Key Stage 4 where the application of tenses and longer sentences as well as more complex grammar are crucial for success.

The way we teach languages at Harris Academy Sutton is by its nature very accessible. In order to develop confident language learners, lessons are taught in the target language and pupils learn to use the target language from the onset. This is achieved through routines, games and songs.  At Harris Academy Sutton, we believe that in order to learn the language, one needs to also learn and understand the culture and history of the countries where the language is spoken. As such, developing a knowledge of the Spanish culture is embedded throughout the curriculum. 

How do we teach Spanish at Key Stage 4? 

The vast majority of students will study Spanish at GCSE as part of our broad and balanced Key Stage 4 curriculum.

Our KS3 curriculum prepares students for the demands of this course due to its spiralled nature. Students consolidate the learning that has taken place in Key Stage 3 and more focus is placed on the GCSE exam criteria. In addition, the curriculum continues to expand students' cultural knowledge whilst developing their language skills at the same time. More complex vocabulary and grammatical structures are taught in order for all students to be able to aspire to achieve a Grade 9. Students cover the topics which form part of the three themes assessed at GCSE – Identity and Culture, Local, National, International and Global; Areas of Interest and Current and Future Study and Employment. Students are given strategies and techniques for completion of each of the GCSE papers and Mock Exams are sat at several points throughout the two-year course.

What exam board do we study at Key Stage 4? 

Students studying Spanish at HASU follow the AQA syllabus which continues to build on the premise that learning a language can bring many benefits.

Students study all of the following themes on which the assessments are based. 

Theme 1: Identity and culture

Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest

Theme 3: Current and future study and employment

This specification can be found here.

How can you help your child in Spanish

Independent study outside of lessons is a crucial element of learning a modern foreign language which will improve attainment and ensure students are making good progress. As a parent you may or may not have any understanding of the Spanish language. However, NO language knowledge is necessary!

  • It is very helpful to check that the students are completing their homework and studying their weekly Spanish vocabulary.  

  • Testing your son or daughter on the words, phrases and golden questions can be helpful and give you a real indication of how they are getting on. 

  • Watching films and TV Shows in Spanish and listening to music in Spanish with your child can be helpful in developing their understanding and confidence in the language. 

Helpful Websites and Further Information

We recommend several online resources to help students with their independent learning and consolidation of material encountered in lessons. In addition, online platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and YouTube all provide access to series/films/clips in the foreign language. 

Please find below some websites and resources which students should be using at home or in their free time.  

 
www.linguascope.com 

 (FREE subscriber app also available on iOS [iPad], Android [tablet]) The department subscribes to this website which is a helpful and fun way to revise vocabulary through different games and activities, sorted by topic.  

Elementary is aimed at 6-12 year olds, Beginner is aimed at 9-14 and Intermediate is aimed at ages 13-16. 

Students are given the username and password by their teacher. 

www.quizlet.com 

(also available as an app on iOS, Android) 

This website enables students to create flashcards to revise vocabulary on a computer and on smartphones/ tablets. They can access their weekly vocabulary lists which are created by the department. Quizlet features games, activities and tests to enable students to practise and see their progress. 

www.languagesonline.org.uk 

This is a useful website created by teachers which allow students to practise both vocabulary and grammar – this is particularly useful for students struggling with tenses. 

www.senorjordan.com/los-videos/ 

This very useful website provides detailed explanations of key grammar concepts in Spanish. 

www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish/ 

This website provides students with useful videos and links to other resources which will help to develop the students’ knowledge of the language.