Languages (French)
At Birch Hill Primary School, we believe that learning a modern foreign language broadens children's horizons and helps them develop an appreciation of different cultures, communities and ways of life.
French is taught throughout Key Stage 2, providing pupils with opportunities to communicate in another language and develop a greater understanding of the wider world. Through language learning, children gain confidence, improve their communication skills and develop respect for linguistic and cultural diversity.
Our French curriculum aims to foster curiosity and enthusiasm for languages while preparing pupils for future language learning at secondary school and beyond.
National Curriculum Aims
The National Curriculum for Languages aims to ensure that all pupils:
- Understand and respond to spoken and written language from a variety of authentic sources.
- Speak with increasing confidence, fluency and spontaneity.
- Write for different purposes and audiences using a range of vocabulary and grammatical structures.
- Develop an appreciation of a variety of written texts in the language studied.
Implementation
At Birch Hill Primary School, we use the Language Angels Scheme of Work to deliver a carefully sequenced French curriculum across Key Stage 2. The curriculum is designed to build progressively on prior learning, ensuring that pupils develop increasing confidence and competence in the language over time.
Children learn through engaging topics and practical activities that develop the five key language learning skills:
- Listening
- Speaking
- Reading
- Writing
- Grammar
Pupils learn how to understand and communicate simple ideas, engage in conversations, read and respond to written texts, and write increasingly complex sentences. They also develop an understanding of French grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary, enabling them to communicate with greater accuracy and confidence.
Alongside language skills, pupils learn about French culture and traditions, helping them to develop a broader understanding of the world and an appreciation of different ways of life. They are encouraged to make comparisons between French culture and their own experiences, strengthening their cultural awareness and sense of identity.
Our curriculum provides strong foundations for future language learning and supports pupils in becoming confident, curious and enthusiastic language learners.
Impact
Our French curriculum helps pupils develop the confidence and skills to communicate in another language while gaining a greater understanding of different cultures and traditions. Through a carefully sequenced programme of study, children build their knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation over time, developing increasingly secure language skills.
By the end of Year 6, pupils are able to:
- Listen attentively and respond to spoken French with increasing confidence.
- Communicate simple ideas and information through speaking and conversation.
- Read and understand a range of familiar words, phrases and short texts.
- Write sentences and short pieces of text using appropriate vocabulary and grammatical structures.
- Apply their knowledge of phonics, grammar and vocabulary to support communication.
- Demonstrate resilience and curiosity when learning a new language.
- Show an appreciation of French culture and traditions and recognise similarities and differences between cultures.
We measure the impact of our languages curriculum through:
- Ongoing teacher assessment during lessons.
- Monitoring of pupils' speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.
- Assessment against the progression of knowledge and skills within the Language Angels curriculum.
- Pupil voice and discussions about language learning.
- Review of pupils' work and learning outcomes.
- Subject leader monitoring, including lesson visits, work scrutiny and curriculum reviews.
As a result, pupils leave Birch Hill Primary School with a positive attitude towards language learning, a secure foundation in French and the confidence to continue studying languages at secondary school and beyond. They develop an appreciation of cultural diversity and an understanding of the value of communicating in different languages in an increasingly connected world.
French Programme of Study