Fifth Annual Modern Foreign Languages Bake-Off: A Sweet Success!
On Thursday, 23 October, the MFL Department hosted its fifth Annual Baking Competition, bringing a delicious close to the first half-term. As always, the creativity and effort from our students were truly impressive, with entries inspired by cuisines from every corner of the globe.
Year 11
This year’s Year 11 competition was incredibly close! We decided to award three First Prizes:
Lily T (Germany)
Celina D (Europe)
Amber P (Germany)
All three winners will receive a Commemorative Wooden Spoon—a prize worth waiting for! (As you can see from the photo, they’re something special.)
Year 10
1st Place: Chloe L (Maldives)
2nd Place: Victoria R-J (Scotland)
3rd Place: Daisy L (England)
Year 9
1st Place: Grace P & Jemima T (Italy)
2nd Place: Amelia M & Maisie L (New York)
3rd Place: Nabiya N (Pakistan)
Year 8
1st Place: Anais M & Quinn M (Japan)
2nd Place: Molly S (UK)
3rd Place: Harper E-W (Italy, Rome)
Year 7
1st Place: Rahma O (Brazil)
2nd Place: Scarlett T (South Korea)
3rd Place: Olivia B (Denmark)
Special Mentions
A big shout-out to those who embraced the challenge of baking authentic desserts from their chosen countries:
Fatima I (Pakistan)
Humaira B & Safiya H (England)
Freya F (Austria)
Mia P (France)
Prizes & Highlights
First-place winners will receive engraved wooden spoons, while all other winners enjoyed a chocolatey surprise. The variety of cakes and bakes was incredible—Italy proved especially popular, and one entry even featured a Latin inscription of PGHS core values!
This competition continues to grow each year and we are amazed by the creativity, effort and sheer tastiness of the entries. Thank you and well done to everyone who baked and made Thursday lunchtime such a treat!
On Friday 26th September 2025, our school celebrated the European Day of Languages. The event was a wonderful opportunity to promote language learning, cultural awareness and to have a bit of fun along the way where people in Europe celebrate all the languages across the world. We kicked off the week with assemblies with Mrs Gill and we learnt all about the importance of learning a language. Mrs Gill had some super Year 7 students reading out our language poem. Thank you to Kezia, Sofia, Olivia, Esther and Sarah for their fantastic help with the poem. Six students then showcased their amazing linguistic abilities by reading out the 6 school values in Ukrainian, Arabic, German, Russian and Hungarian – a huge thank you to Zoe, Emilia, Juliette, Isobel, Jenya and Juliette!
Throughout the day on Friday, students and staff embraced the diversity of all languages and cultures in a range of exciting activities:
Greetings in Different Languages The day began with a lively language exchange, as students and staff greeted each other in a variety of European languages. From French “Bonjour” to Swedish “Hej”.
Flag Badge Competition One of the highlights was our Flag Badge Competition. Staff members each wore a badge featuring a flag and represented a different country. Students were challenged to find out which country each member of staff was representing by asking questions about why they had chosen that country. This encouraged curiosity and interaction across year groups and staff teams. Winners will be announced next week!
European Languages Quiz Pupils also tested their knowledge with a quiz competition, where they answered fun and challenging questions about European languages, geography and culture. It was fantastic to see so much enthusiasm and teamwork on display! Please get all entries to Mrs Williams before the end of the week.
Poster Competition In the weeks leading up to the event, students submitted creative and colourful posters celebrating languages and cultures from across the world. The standard of work was incredibly high and our winners will be announced next week with certificates and prizes. The European Day of Languages was a huge success, thanks to the enthusiasm of our pupils and the support of our dedicated staff. It was a wonderful reminder of the richness of language and culture around us and the power of communication to bring people together. We look forward to celebrating again next year!
What a fantastic and eventful year it’s been for the MFL department!
We began the academic year with a bang by celebrating the European Day of Languages. Highlights included the popular bake-off, a range of competitions and a lively interform quiz. The bake-off was a particular hit once again, drawing in a record number of delicious entries for our language staff to judge – always a highlight in our calendar! The creativity on display was truly outstanding.
In lessons, students explored the history of the Berlin Wall, linking into the theme of German reunification. Through interactive lessons and thoughtful discussions, they developed a richer understanding of the historical events and the significance of the wall coming down.
We also strengthened our ties with Cardinal Newman College, welcoming their German department to speak with our Year 11 students. This visit gave students valuable insight into college life and studying A-level German, and they made the most of the opportunity to ask insightful questions.
Our international links with partner schools in France and Germany remain strong. Students have enjoyed exchanging letters and working on collaborative cultural projects, which have helped to deepen their appreciation of different cultures and build friendships beyond the classroom. We’re excited to continue nurturing these partnerships next year.
Meanwhile, our extracurricular German clubs have been thriving. The German Spelling Bee proved popular and our German film club has offered students the chance to enjoy a range of films while expanding their cultural knowledge. Students also got a chance to watch “Le Petit Nicolas” this year which students always find entertaining. These activities have been both fun and enriching and we can’t wait to build on them in the coming year!
Year 8 German Picnic with Frau Ingram
In Year 8 German, Module 3 is all about food and healthy living. In class, we have learned all about traditional German foods and how to give opinions on and describe these foods in German. To mark the end of the module and the end of our Summer term, some of our Year 8 classes were super lucky to be able to experience some of these traditional German foods for themselves in their German lessons. We tried Bratwurst, Brezeln, Brötchen and of course Berliner! Students demonstrated lots of curiosity when faced with these new and different foods and they used lots of fabulous adjectives to describe the foods and there were some definite favourites! How many of the German foods can you recognise from the photo?
Board Games with Frau Gill
In an exciting blend of creativity, culture, and education, our school’s German language students have taken on a unique project at the end of this term and we have designed their own German board games. This initiative has not only enhanced their linguistic skills but also introduced them to the rich tradition of German board gaming.
Students were divided into small groups, each tasked with creating a board game that incorporated German vocabulary, phrases and cultural references. The project required them to brainstorm ideas, design game mechanics, create rules and produce game materials, all in German.
The resulting games were fabulous. Some groups developed strategy games set in historical German cities, where players navigated through challenges using their language skills. Others created word games that tested vocabulary and grammar in fun and competitive ways.
One standout creation was “German Cluedo” where the teachers of our school took centre stage and the murder weapons were classroom items and the whole game was set in our school!
To finish the project, a game lesson was organised where each group presented their game and we set up stations around the room and moved from one game station to another, trying out the games. Not only did it reinforce their German language skills in a practical and enjoyable context, but it also fostered collaboration, creativity and a deeper appreciation for German culture.
This project has shown that learning a language can be so much more than memorising vocabulary and grammar rules. It can be a vibrant, interactive experience that brings students together and makes learning genuinely fun.
We’ve enjoyed a hugely rewarding year collaborating with our German partner school, Sickingen Gymnasium and our two French partner schools in Lille and the Loire Valley. Our Year 8 students took part in a vibrant letter exchange with pupils from Landstuhl. The letters they received were full of stories and cultural insights, offering a unique glimpse into life in Germany.
In response, our students crafted thoughtful letters of their own, sharing details about their Easter celebrations and upcoming summer plans. Our dual linguists recently received responses to their letters where French students shared their experience of school life. These exchanges have significantly enhanced both cultural awareness and French and German language skills, whilst sparking genuine curiosity and connection across borders.
Looking ahead to the 2025/2026 school year, we’re excited to build on this success. Plans are already underway for a series of video calls, which will bring our students even closer to their German friends and deepen this valuable international partnership.
In Module 3, our year 8 students have been learning all about German food and drink. We have enjoyed learning all about traditional German foods. In Frau Ingrams class, we have designed some German menus for our very own restaurants. I think you can agree they look amazing!
This term, Year 9 students have been reflecting on their early childhood—what they were like, what they used to do, and the memories that have stayed with them. We’ve gathered some of their most vivid and entertaining recollections.
But there’s a twist! Each student has been given an old-fashioned German name to disguise their identity. Can you work out who’s who from the clues below?
Who?
Had a ‘One Direction’ bike? …..
Had ‘Boost’ as their favourite chocolate? …..
Had read all the Harry Potter books by the age of 10? ……
Could count to 50 by the age of 6? …..
Had pizza as their favourite food? ……
Was allowed a mobile phone at the age of 10? …….
Hallo, ich heisse Edeltraud. Ich bin sehr abenteuerlustig und kühn. Als ich jünger war, war ich niedlich und süss. Ich hatte grosse blaue Augen und sehr lockige kurze Haare. Als ich klein war, hatte ich einen rosa und weissen Teddybär und viele Kuscheltiere. Mit fünf Jahren konnte ich lesen und mit zwei Jahren hatte ich einen Hund, er heisste Lottie. Meine Lieblingssendung war ‘Peppa Pig’ und meine Lieblingsschokolade war ‘Boost’. Ich hatte eine Puppe und mein Teddybär war mein Lieblingsspielzeug.
Ich heisse Mechthild. Ich bin sehr mutig und total verrückt! Als ich jünger war, war ich niedlich und so süss. Ich hatte blonde Haare und blaue Augen. Als ich klein war, hatte ich ein rosa Kaninchen und viele Kuscheltiere. Mit fünf jahren konnte ich lesen und mit zehn Jahren hatte ich alle die ‘Harry Potter’ Bücher gelesen. Meine Lieblingssendung war “Thundermans” and mein Lieblingsessen war Pizza. Ich hatte ein Schaukelpferd und es war mein Lieblingsspielzeug.
Guten Tag, ich heisse Hildegard. Ich bin sehr abenteuerlustig und lustig. Als ich jünger war, war ich niedlich und freundlich. Ich hatte lange Haare und ich war modisch. Als ich klein war hatte ich ein rosa Pferd und viel ‘Lego’. Mit sechs Jahren konnte ich bis 50 zählen und mit zehn Jahren konnte ich schwimmen. Meine Lieblingssendung war ‘Barbie, life in the dreamhouse’ und meine Lieblingsschokolade war Kitkat. Ich hatte viele Barbie Puppen und sie waren mein Lieblingsspielzeug.
Ich heisse Serhilda. Ich bin sehr abenteuerlustig aber vorsichtig. Als ich jünger war, war ich total verückt und die lauteste. Ich hatte kurze schwarze Haare und ich konnte schnell laufen. Als ich klein war, hatte ich ein ‘One Direction’ Rad und es war sehr toll. Mit acht Jahren durfte ich alleine in die Schule gehen und mit zehn Jahren durfte ich ein Handy haben. Meine Lieblingssendung war ‘Rasta’ Maus und meine Lieblingsschokolade war Freddo. Ich hatte einen weissen Teddybär und er war mein Lieblingsspielzeug.
Our pen pal letter exchange with our three partner schools across France and Germany continues to thrive. Year 8 French students have recently created impressive and detailed school brochures to send to their pen pals in Lille. These brochures described their school uniform, daily routine, ideal school and included opinions on their subjects. We look forward to comparing both school systems when the answers arrive.
Meanwhile, Year 9 students sent beautifully crafted Easter cards last term, and we’re eagerly anticipating letters from their French pen pals. It’s heartening to see the care and effort students on both sides of the Channel put into their letters and cards. In an age of instant messaging and social media, the simple joy of receiving a handwritten letter remains as special as ever.
Each year, we select around 60 students to become double linguists in Year 8. These students are chosen based on their aptitude for language learning, their performance in German this year and their overall attitude and effort in class. We look for students who we feel would be able to successfully manage the demands of studying two languages.
We will be making our selection next half term. However, if you have a strong reason for wishing your child to be considered for French—such as having French-speaking family, regular holidays in France, or simply a keen interest in learning the language—please get in touch. We are always happy to consider additional context when making our decisions.
Over the next three weeks, we will also be speaking to all Year 7 students about this opportunity during their German lessons and they will be invited to express whether they would like to be considered for French.
If you would like your child to be considered, please email me at k.gill@penworthamgirls.lancs.sch.uk
Here are some comments from two Year 8 students who started studying both languages in September:
“Throughout Year 8, I have had the opportunity to learn both German and French. It has been a privilege learning to speak and write in two languages and learn about their cultures, weather and different food styles. I have two excellent and supportive teachers, Mrs Raine and Mrs Ingram who have both taught me a new language and opened my eyes to a different part of the world. Although it has been challenging to not get mixed up between vocabulary and pronunciation, it has been a pleasure to learn two languages and can’t wait to learn even more!”
Eesha
“Since the start of year 8, I have loved learning French so much! I’ve discovered that my focus and memory have improved not just in French, but in all my subjects! Mastering another language is a powerful tool for the future, enhancing university applications and unveiling a world of career opportunities. Travelling to France becomes an enriching experience as I can grasp the culture and common phrases. Plus, the thrill of watching French films and series, with or without subtitles, deepens my understanding and appreciation of the stories being told.
In summary, learning French has been an incredible adventure so far, transforming it into one of my favourite lessons and benefiting me in lots of different ways.”
Ivy
Studying both languages also enables students to choose between German and French at GCSE or they can also study both languages. Here are the thoughts from two of our Y11 dual linguists:
“Studying two languages helps us to develop skills in both. The German and French languages can often have similarities, and comprehension of one helps understanding of the other. In the future, languages can open a lot of doors and opportunities such as working abroad and working with people from other countries. We are very lucky to have the chance to study both, as if you have an interest in languages, it’s a good opportunity to develop and strengthen them and is a great learning experience. We would recommend it to anyone who is interested in languages or wants to study them in the future!” Holly and Nusaibah
The French and German department have been busy this last half term preparing our Year 11 students for their final speaking exams that took place at the end of April. What a fantastic effort they all made and the standard was amazing in both foundation and higher! I am extremely proud of all our students who stepped up to this challenge and gave it their best shot. By the sounds of it though there will be a lot of students playing football at the park with their friends this weekend so beware if you are heading out!
On the last day of the Spring 1 Half Term, 8G2 had a delightful lesson learning about Valentine’s Day traditions in Germany. We practised some Valentine’s vocabulary, including:
Schokolade – a class favourite
Herz
Blumen
Geschenke
Ich liebe
Afterwards, we made cards, mostly for ‘Mutti’. I hope you enjoyed them! Here are the results. It was a lovely last lesson, enjoyed by all.
