This successful Department enjoys an enviable blend of enthusiasm and experience. Jeff Cox and Mike Porteous were the backbone of the Department for the last fifteen years, specialising in French and Spanish and it is pleasing to see Mike back from retirement on a part time basis to teach AS Spanish. This year we welcome Nicola Rogers who takes over from Mike and who joins us to teach Spanish and French. Sara Barns-Graham and Nico Lauber reinforce the Department by bringing expertise in German and their experience of teaching in Preparatory Schools and abroad. Fatima Akli and Brano Sustek joined the Department three years ago, as we expanded our provision of Spanish to a larger number of students. Sarah Shanks teaches beginners’ German drawing on her experience of living in Germany. Last year we welcomed the further addition of Sally Pollard to teach the newly introduced IB French (ab initio). The Department benefits greatly from the presence of native speakers of German and French amongst the teaching staff. Altogether, we form a team of committed and skilled linguists with a proven ability to communicate those skills to young learners.