All pupils have a chance to take German in their second year at Colfe’s (Year 8). An exciting study visit to Germany takes place at the end of Year 9. An exciting trip to Bonn and Cologne takes place every second year which combines German lessons, sightseeing and fun activities. After a two year introductory course, we have one or two sets studying German in each of Years 10 and 11. Pupils are encouraged to apply for a scholarship by the British  Council to go to Germany in the summer before Year 11 in order to improve their awareness of and performance in the language.

Results at GCSE are excellent and up to 20% of pupils normally choose German as one of their subjects in the Sixth Form, where courses leading to AS and A2 levels are offered. In the Sixth Form, students are again encouraged to visit a German-speaking country on a study visit to either Berlin or Vienna and Salzburg (alternating years). Over the years the results of the German department have been consistently excellent both at GCSE and A Level.

Throughout the school, the stress lies on communicating in the language (oral and written) and understanding the spoken and written language. The School employs a full time German assistant to work with small groups of Years 8, 11, 12 and 13.  German is the most widely spoken native language in the European Union and there are many trade links between Germany and the UK. Many German companies have offices here which makes German the most useful language to speak in the UK at the time being, as stated frequently by research.  

Classes are taught in specialist classrooms equipped with interactive whiteboards. There is also one classroom with 12 multi-media computers for the use of language classes and the department boasts a large selection of interactive programs for student use. A selection of German books, magazines and DVD’s are available on loan from the Library and the Department and we organise magazine orders for the lower school.