Level
Lower Secondary (suitable for children aged 11-14 / Years 7–9)
Hours of study
3 hours a week (plus additional time for completing assignments)
About the course
View upcoming Open EventsOverview
Our Lower Secondary Spanish homeschooling course will introduce your child to the Spanish-speaking world, which spans 21 countries and 450 million people. They’ll get to know Spanish-speaking countries and their peoples and cultures, opening them up to new ideas and ways of looking at the world. They will:
- Develop a broad knowledge of Spanish vocabulary and grammar.
- Build skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening in Spanish.
- Expand their potential for future travel and work abroad.
Our Lower Secondary level Spanish course follows the English National Curriculum for Key Stage 3 Spanish and lays the foundation for progressing onto our IGCSE™ Spanish course, balancing online and offline study that your child can work through at their own pace.
Additional information
Requirements: Your child won’t need any previous knowledge to take our Lower Secondary Spanish homeschooling course, which starts from the basics. If you’re enrolling for Year 8 or 9, your child will need to have studied Spanish at Year 7 or 8, respectively.
Study method: A mix of online and offline study with structured content, designed for more independent learning. Expert Tutor feedback and a dedicated Student Progress Manager are included to help support your child’s progress.
Course content
Key topics
- About myself, greeting people, my pets and activities
- Food, drink and healthy eating in the Spanish-speaking world
- Sports and sports stars, celebrities and musicians
- My school, my pastimes, shopping, travel and going on holiday
- Towns, houses, rooms, urban versus rural environments
- Spanish-speaking places: Mexico City, Cuba, Guatemala, Equatorial Guinea and the Canary Islands
Take a look at our Lower Secondary Spanish homeschooling course to see what your child will be studying, with these exclusive previews on our student learning platform. These will give you an insight into our approach to this subject, the different topics it covers and the types of activities and exercises your child will be doing once they get started.
Our homeschooling approach
Our student learning platform
Our easy-to-use online student learning platform gives your child instant access to everything they need for each of their courses. It’s where they’ll find all their study materials and resources, and where they can upload assignments, find out their grades and receive feedback from their course Tutors. You’ll also have parent access while your child is studying with us, so you can follow their progress and achievements.
Learning and wellbeing support
We understand that every child is different, and our personalised approach to our students’ learning and wellbeing makes sure your child gets the support they need, when they need it. From their own dedicated Student Progress Manager to the option of 1:1 sessions with a specialist Tutor, your child has a friendly team behind them at every stage, so that they can unleash their full potential while studying in a safe and supportive environment.
Personalised, pupil-led learning
We’re the only online school where your child can choose what, how, when and where they study – with no live lessons, set timetables, or crowded classrooms – for a 100% personalised, pupil-led learning experience. Our unique approach to homeschooling lets your child study at their own pace, in ways that work for them, wherever you are in the world – ensuring they really can learn without limits.
Meet the tutors
Lower Secondary Spanish Tutors
Caroline Thomson, BA, PGCE
Tutors
Subjects
- French
- Spanish
Teaching Levels
- Upper Primary
- Lower Secondary
- GCSE Level
Caroline Thomson, BA, PGCE
Tutors
I’ve always enjoyed learning languages, thanks to many holidays in France and Spain with my family. I began learning French and German when I started school, and I’ve never looked back. I can speak French, German, Spanish, Italian and Japanese for good measure. I always tell people that I have a lot to say…
I taught in a Specialist Language College for eight years, having introduced Italian to the school, a popular language with students. But I decided to leave the teaching profession, following the arrival of my daughter, and yes, she now speaks French!
I’ve chosen to work as a Tutor part time rather than teach in school. As a result I now have many students of all ages, and I enjoy the opportunity for the one to one contact this affords. I took my BA in French at the University of Hull, but I was lucky to be able to take extra modules in Spanish, Japanese, Italian and German. I must admit that once I started learning one language, the rest became much easier, including Japanese
As part of my degree course, I spent the year working in France as an English Language Assistant in a French Lycée. I lived in Périgueux in the Dordogne, the home of truffles and foie gras, which I can highly recommend for a visit. I taught students of different ages from 16 to 24, mostly studying for the International Baccalaureate. This experience inspired me to become a teacher of Modern Languages.
I took my PGCE at the University of York and trained at schools in Scarborough and Richmond in North Yorkshire. Following this, I started working at Horbury School near Wakefield for eight years. During my time as a teacher, I ran trips abroad to France and Germany which was a wonderful experience.
As a Mum I most enjoy spending time with my husband and daughter. My daughter keeps me busy but very happy. I’m currently learning Chinese so that I can offer to teach it, in addition to the fact that I love languages. I also enjoy art, and sewing when it’s safe to do so (and I don’t have my daughter on my lap!). I like music, especially some of the French rock bands, great music for the car!
I am very happy to be a tutor for Wolsey Hall Oxford and it’s all because of those family holidays that I am here to share my passion for languages.
Isabel Gabilondo, BA, CAP
Tutors
Subjects
- Spanish
Teaching Levels
- Lower Secondary
- GCSE Level
Isabel Gabilondo, BA, CAP
Tutors
I come from the South of Spain, Seville, famous for its orange trees, dancing horses, flamenco guitars and long siestas in the heat of the afternoon. I studied a Higher Degree in Media in the University Hispalense of Seville, but soon after I finished my University studies I started teaching English to children. I took then a one year course in the Universidad Complutense of Madrid to become a qualified teacher.
In 2003 I moved to England and embraced teaching immediately. I began in Adult Learning and the education of corporate groups in big companies and thoroughly enjoyed it. I not only enjoyed teaching the language but also sharing with my students my love and passion for the Spanish culture, music and way of life.
After years in adult education, I moved into the School sector, and I currently teach 11-16 year olds in a Private Independent school. Once a week I also teach in a Primary school, instilling my passion for Spanish in younger children aged 8 and 9. In addition to all of this, I also Tutor online (“Spanish with soul”) where I teach Spanish at any level to all ages. My pupils, like me, love Spanish and are passionate about this beautiful language. I´m very proud to say that over my teaching years many of my students have taken Spanish Studies Degrees in different Universities in the UK, and I would like to think I had something to do with that!
Being the mother of two bilingual sons, I know what a great gift it is being able to speak two different languages; being able to understand the world from two different perspectives and seeing it through two different colours.
I am looking forward to meeting new, eager students and helping them in this fresh and exciting adventure!
Maddy Akers, BA, PGCE
Tutors
Subjects
- Spanish
Teaching Levels
- Lower Secondary
- GCSE Level
Maddy Akers, BA, PGCE
Tutors
I have always been intrigued by languages. I will never forget going on holiday to Spain with my family and hearing the children’s entertainers speaking to us in so many languages. I thought they were amazing. My grandmother bought me my first Spanish dictionary when I was seven. I had no idea how to use it, but I knew I wanted to know what all the words meant. It is now a family heirloom and takes pride of place on my bookcase.
As soon as I went to Secondary school, I began learning French and German. They were my favourite subjects, but I still had a burning desire to learn Spanish, so I began teaching myself after school. Eventually, in 2000, I realised my lifelong dream of studying a BA honours degree in French and Spanish at Nottingham Trent University. I loved every second of my degree, especially learning about the history and politics of the countries.
I spent my third year abroad, six months studying in Strasbourg and six months studying in Salamanca. Both were beautiful places and embedded my passion even deeper for language learning. I cannot wait to revisit them with my own children.
After my degree, I knew I wanted to share my passion for languages and began my teacher training. I went to the University of Leeds to complete my PGCE in French and Spanish. Following my PGCE, I went on to teach in an independent school in North Yorkshire for four years. I had a brief break from teaching while my children were small and then began teaching part-time in an independent school near Sheffield, where I currently still work. I am lucky enough to teach French and Spanish from nursery up to Year 11. I absolutely love the variety my role brings.
I enjoy spending time with my family in my spare time; my three young children keep me very busy! I really enjoy cooking and family trips to the seaside. I also run the tuck-shop for my son’s football team at the weekend. It’s lots of fun, but not when it’s raining! As well as a passion for reading, I also love nothing more than watching French and Spanish series on Netflix!
I am an enthusiastic and caring teacher, motivated by the belief that all children can be successful learners. I am looking forward to being your Tutor at Wolsey Hall Oxford.
Paula Roberts, Diploma in Teaching Pupils with SpLD
Tutors
Subjects
- French
- Spanish
Teaching Levels
- Lower Secondary
- GCSE Level
Paula Roberts, Diploma in Teaching Pupils with SpLD
Tutors
I’ll tell you a secret…
I never planned to be a teacher. But, every career test and values assessment I have ever done confirm that my strengths and interests are best suited to life as an educator.
So, here I am: a curious and sociable teacher with a love of learning; and, I am happy to guide you along your learning journey.
I grew up in North Wales, where being bilingual in Welsh and English is commonplace. My first language is English but I studied Welsh alongside French and German at school. At the time, music was my first love but I decided to keep singing as a hobby and pursue my love of language-learning at university.
I chose to study French at Bangor University, where I took up Spanish ab initio. I’d always been intrigued by Hispanic culture – the music, dance, food and siestas – and the language didn’t disappoint. My year spent studying abroad was one of the best of my life and further cemented my love of languages.
Soon after graduating, I returned to university to train as a secondary school teacher whilst simultaneously working as a fitness instructor!
I spent the next 20 years working in both education, as a Modern Language teacher, and health & fitness where I continue to enjoy life as a yoga teacher.
These two careers have worked seamlessly side-by-side and have even crossed over on more than one occasion through teaching yoga in schools.
Over time, my teaching style has evolved – partly thanks to my yoga practice. Having worked alongside students with dyslexia and other learning needs for many years, my approach is extremely student-centred with an emphasis on developing the whole pupil while stretching and challenging pupils just the right amount.
I am so happy to be part of the team at Wolsey where the ethos is very much in line with mine.
Course bundles & savings
Choose the perfect combination of courses for your child with our flexible approach to homeschooling. The more courses you select, the more you save per course.
1-3 courses
From £570 per course
4 courses
From £522.50 per course
5+ courses
From £475 per course
Inspiring Stories
See how our students have unlocked their potential
Trustpilot Reviews
Lower Secondary Level reviews
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Great Educational Bridge
When moving from one country to another, one of the most challenging tasks was to ensure continuity in schooling for our 12-year-old daughter. Wolsey Hall provided the best solution at a reasonable cost. The enrolment process was smooth. We chose seven courses, before being introduced to their respective tutors. All of them were really friendly, helpful and encouraging. What impressed me most was the detailed feedback provided for each assignment. Student Progress Manager Daisy Datson, who was overseeing our daughter's performance, gave us regular updates and messages of support. We stopped online home schooling after completing our move from the Philippines to Scotland. Thanks to Wolsey Hall for helping with the move!
Brian, August 19
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My daughter started home schooling two…
My daughter started home schooling two years ago with Wolsey Hall in which she has completed Year 8 & 9. This was a huge transition for her from a traditional education system to independent learning, which made possible with the great support she has gotten from her tutors and progress manager. The tutors are leaving constructive feedback indicating points of strengths and areas of improvements, which were very helpful in her learning journey. This is apparent in the improvement I saw in her grades since she started in addition to herself confidence.
Abdullah Aljifri, July 14
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Elective Home Educating with Wolsey Hall Oxford
We have been elective home educating since November 2023 and the change in our daughter’s mental health has been amazing. We chose WH for online learning (year 7) and do not regret that decision at all. We have found the structure of the lessons; a mixture of textbook and interactive learning together with the assignment schedule is just what our daughter needs. Laura Hobley, our Student Progress Manager is extremely helpful with answering any queries we have and regularly gets in touch with our daughter to support her studies. All of the tutors have been extremely friendly and helpful and our daughter has found their feedback very encouraging and adds validation to her studies. We are very happy with our move to elective home education and are very thankful to WH for supporting us on this journey.
Michelle Misiak, April 15, 2024
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Home Education with Wolsey Hall
For us the Covid Lockdowns were seen as an opportunity to test home-schooling out without putting our daughter’s education at any more risk than that of her peers. The concept was met with great enthusiasm, both on our part as well as hers, and we all learned a great deal pretty quickly… We were supported initially by her mainstream school with lesson material but quickly established we needed to supplement this with additional learning in order to fill the voids between her recorded level of achievements in school and her actual knowledge. We registered with lots of really great educational websites, played about on YouTube and generally muddled through having fun and trying to make things work. We loved the concept of home schooling, particularly the freedom, but needed a more structured way of delivering a consistent education. Then we discovered Wolsey Hall. We enrolled our daughter into year 6, her next full school year, and have never looked back. As I write this review, she has just completed year 7. What’s not to love? The Canvas Platform is fantastic - it’s clear, reliable, intuitive, informative and encouraging. The Course content is inspiring – each course is in depth, probably more so than in a mainstream school, but well presented, well evidenced and there’s sufficient resources, both in physical text books and additional web learning, to make this more than achievable. The tutors are so encouraging – With an overall progress manager and individual subject tutors there is never a lack of feedback, advice or praise. Each tutor knows their subject and has taken the time to get to know our daughter. We have experienced only first-rate interactions with every member of the team that we have encountered – friendly, knowledgeable, timely – thank you. Freedom – Learn when it suits! Wolsey Hall has meant that we can factor our school time into our life style rather than factoring our life style round school time. My daughter rides horses and she can now do so “in school time” without it affecting her education. We can travel in our Motorhome “out of term time” and experience cheaper prices and enjoy shorter queues. Social interaction – this was a big one for us but Wolsey Hall have it covered. With various clubs, competitions and activities to get involved in you are never alone. She might be sitting in our dining room or on the end of her bed but she is interacting with people all over the world. All of a sudden having a few friends at school doesn’t seem enough anymore and the world isn’t as big as it once was. Home schooling has also enabled her to take on a volunteering role at a local riding school giving her access to many other people than can be found in the confines of a class room. Would I recommend Wolsey Hall? 100% yes I would, and we have never looked back since!
Lydia, August 8, 2022
Rated 4.7 / 5 based on 270 reviews.
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