Modern Foreign Languages – French:

Intent:

At St Mark’s C.E. Primary School, children are taught French as part of our Modern Foreign Languages curriculum.  Children are introduced to the culture of our nearest neighbour in mainland Europe in a way that is meaningful and enables them to develop an appreciation of the differences and similarities between citizens in our interconnected, global world.  

During their time at St Mark's C.E. Primary, children are taught to understand and communicate in spoken and written French, with a developing command of a range of vocabulary and a sound understanding of the basic grammar that underpins the language. Our Modern Foreign Languages curriculum places value on enjoyment and interest in engagement with a foreign language, as well as developing an enthusiasm toward learning and using a wider range of languages in the future.  We aspire to embed strong foundations for further learning of foreign languages to be continued in the Key Stage Three programme of study, as well as later life. 

Implementation:

In Key Stage Two, French is explicitly taught as a discrete weekly lesson using the Rising Stars French scheme of work. Alongside this, we use interleaving to promote the continual development of spoken language through encouraging French vocabulary as part of general classroom practice. Opportunities are provided for the children to immerse themselves in the language, for example, recording the date in French.

At St Mark’s C.E. Primary School, our carefully sequenced French curriculum promotes the following curriculum strands:  

Curriculum strands:

• Speaking and Listening
• Vocabulary:  conversational, functional and classroom

• Reading
• Writing
• Grammatical Understanding
• Cultural Understanding

Understanding the importance of knowing more and remembering more, we promote an interleaved approach to revision of vocabulary and grammar already taught, alongside acquisition of new content.  We seek to ensure learning is embedded into the long-term memory through repeated practice.  At the end of a unit, teachers make meaningful use of assessment to identify and support next steps.

We recognise the benefits of being immersed in different cultures from an early age.  In the Early Years and Key Stage One, children are introduced to French through speaking and listening, as well as repeating and responding to key words presented within songs or stories.

Impact:

Through our engaging Modern Foreign Languages curriculum, all children progress by developing their knowledge and skills. By the end of Key Stage Two, pupils will be able to read and write simple sentences that are grammatically correct, as well as recognise and respond to content that they have previously covered. The children will engage positively with lessons and participate in simple spoken conversations. 

In order to evaluate the knowledge, skills and understanding which has been retained, on-going teacher assessment. The progressive acquisition of skills in reading, writing and grammatical understanding over time will be evidenced in French folders that move with each child through their journey in Key Stage Two. At the end of each of the six units in the programme, children complete an assessment and teachers record judgements based on the skills covered identifying if a child is working towards the standard, working at the expected standard or working at a greater depth level.