Modern Language (French) Curriculum Statement 

Learning a foreign language is a liberation from insularity and provides an opening to other cultures. A high-quality languages education should foster pupils’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world. The teaching should enable pupils to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and in writing. It should also provide opportunities for them to communicate for practical purposes, learn new ways of thinking and read great literature in the original language. Language teaching should provide the foundation for learning further languages, equipping pupils to study and work in other countries (NC2014)

Our modern language curriculum has been designed to instil a love of language learning and an awareness of other cultures. We want our pupils to develop the confidence to communicate in French for practical purposes, using both the written and spoken language so that they develop cultural capital throughout their time in school.

Put simply, we want to ensure each and every child ‘loves learning other languages’ and has the time and opportunities to learn about other cultures to their own.

In school we focus on, not only high-quality language acquisition (French), but the ways children can be inspired by French culture. Children are given opportunities to communicate for practical purposes around familiar subjects and routines. Balancing both spoken and written French allows pupils to develop appropriate subject specific knowledge, skills and understanding as set out in the National Curriculum so that they can meet end of key stage attainment targets.

Put simply, we positively endorse the progression of French language skills throughout Key Stage 2 so that all children are ready for their next phase of learning.

Modern language development is encouraged through individual and collaborative learning experiences, a positive growth mind set, a sense of responsibility and challenges including role-play, language games and language detective work which take children beyond the classroom. We are a small rural Christian school so it is vital we support our pupils to look beyond their immediate community and facilitate learning which will one day open opportunities for them to study and work in other countries in the future.

Put simply, children will be equipped and inspired to become global citizens of the future.

Our curriculum is: CYCLICAL as pupils return to the same grammar skills and vocabulary repeatedly with increasing complexity throughout the Key Stage 2. It focuses on: INCREASING DEPTH through repetition and cross-curricular links, allowing children to make connections and apply their language skills to other areas of their learning. We also emphasize PRIOR KNOWLEDGE: returning to vocabulary or grammar skills, so pupils can build upon previous foundations, rather than starting again. All lessons are based on one of six strands: speaking and pronunciation, listening, reading and writing, grammar, intercultural understanding and language detective skills with some lessons combining different more than one strand.

Put simply, pupils will leave school equipped with a range of language-learning skills to enable them to study French, or any other language, with confidence.

The impact of our modern language curriculum is that as pupils progress through school, they will be able to think, talk and critically develop a more rigorous understanding of French. They will develop a love of the French language and culture and they will be able to confidently express their own learning journey.  Ultimately, our children will have a confident set of modern language skills and knowledge, supported by Christian values which will be used to get ahead in education and life more generally.

Put simply, they will learn more, remember more, enjoy more and develop more creatively, spiritually, socially and emotionally. Thus, enabling them to be ready for their next stage in education.