Cross-curricular Activities

European Day of Languages

There have never been more opportunities to work or study in a different European country - but not being able to understand or speak another European language prevents many people from taking advantage of them. Our aim is to help our students gain access to a wider range of opportunities by ensuring they are competent in a second language.

Europe is rich in languages - there are over 200 European languages and many more spoken by citizens whose family origin is from other continents. In the Autumn term we celebrate European Day of Languages by encouraging students for whom English is their second language (EAL students), to offer tasters in their home languages in a giant languages Speed Date, the canteen offers a themed ‘European’ menu and we ask all staff to enhance their regular lessons by introducing creative links to themes of language and culture.

Onatti Theatre

The Onatti Theatre Company visit us each year and offers students the chance to put their language skills to the test whilst enjoying a play delivered in another European language by native speakers. Lively storylines and plenty of props mean that this is a fun session that enables students to link their language studies with cultural activities.

The Yeo Valley Apprentice Challenge

This annual event links enterprise skills with language, food technology and ICT and builds on our long-standing links with local business, Yeo Valley and other secondary schools in the area. Teams undertake a two-day challenge that stretches their skills as they develop and produce a new yoghurt product and an accompanying business plan that has a European context. They then pitch their product and their ideas to a representative from Yeo Valley. 

Routes into Languages

Haygrove is fortunate enough to have a visit annually from the Routes Into Languages team to deliver a careers talk highlighting the importance of languages for students wishing to pursue Higher Education. The session also enables students to understand the relevance of languages in a global workplace and the opportunities for further study which might be open to them if they continue with a language.