Modern language qualification that is beyond GCSE but not as advanced as A/AS LEVEL?

[ThinkingAgainAndAgain]

DS is going into y12 to do A levels. He liked gcse Spanish (predicted an 8, but feels he is more likely to get a 7), but doesn’t feel that he is good enough to do it for A level, and his school doesn’t offer an AS level in it. So he’s going to do three other A levels (largely humanities) and an EPQ (which is what he would be required to do at his school).

He would however like to keep his Spanish up, and would like to do so with a view to getting another qualification in it. He is considering AS level, but I think three A levels plus an EPQ plus an AS level might be a bit much.

Is there anything by way of a formal qualification he could work towards that is between GCSE and AS level?

Look into the European Common Framework or References for languages. You would probably be looking at B1 level.
https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages/

Instituto Cervantes run online DELE exam prep courses online (DELE is a Spanish language certification recognised by the Spanish Govt). They can probably manage registering him for the exam too. It's available at various levels and he can take a test to check which course he should do.
https://londres.cervantes.es/en/courses_spanish/students_spanish/dele_diplomas_info/preparation_courses.htm

Disclaimer - I don't work for them but I do work in the language training industry.

MFL is my subject and I am not aware of such a qualification tbh. A 7 or a possible 8 is fine to take A level MFL IMHO.

I agree 3 x A level plus EPQ and AS is a lot. Could he do the EPQ with a Spanish focus - a Spanish film or a book, say - that would have been an element of the AS level anyway?

I see others suggest external courses – I agree these are possible but I am not sure there is a level as such between GCSE and AS, ie considerably easier and less work than AS but still more than GCSE but I guess it's worth a look.

I was going to suggest this too. If he goes to university, many allow current students to attend some language courses as well as their degree, so it's worth keeping up language skills even if not doing an A-Level. E.g. this at Bristol:

www.bristol.ac.uk/sml/study/uwlp/

These qualifications are excellent. I did GCSE followed by DELE at B2 as an adult. B2 is high A level so probably B1. Institute Cervantes do good courses and some are online. There is a real focus on communication, so in someways more useful than A Level, brilliant your DC wants to carry on.

Thanks ever so much for all the input, it’s really helpful and informative. He is looking into whether the work for this would count towards the ‘skill’ part of the Gold D of E so kill two birds with one stone.

Coming back to this with new information! DS would like to continue his Spanish as part of the ‘skill’ element of the Gold D of E, also ideally working towards a qualification like the DELE too.

Any idea how this would work please? The DELE is five weeks (Four hours at least, per week), but the skill needs to be completed over six months, as a guide, an hour a week.

I’m not sure what you mean by the DELE is 5 weeks? The length and intensity of the courses varies hugely…

Could he do the DELE but afterwards keep his Spanish up by joining some Spanish speaking club? I used to go to a regular cafe night for people wanting to practise Spanish. Maybe there will be something like that?

5 weeks? That sounds odd for B1 level.... My son has just done DELF B1 (French), and that definitely could NOT be done in 5 weeks! 5 months maybe, if you work hard at it...

It sounds like you may have found one intensive course for DELE. They are usually spread over an academic year and I suspect there will be one out there that covers the 6 month period.

I’d look for a local language group that may do an evening class. There are a few in my area, covering various levels.