French

We believe foreign language learning provides a rich, exciting and invaluable educational, social and cultural experience for our pupils. By the end of Year 6 we aim not only to have laid the foundations of our pupils’ future language learning in the four key skills, but also to have given them an appreciation of different cultures, peoples and communities.

Our specific aims are: 

For pupils to enjoy learning, developing a genuine interest in and life-long curiosity for foreign languages. 

To give pupils a solid foundation in learning a new language – which will make them excited to continue their language learning at KS3. 

For pupils to explore relationships between language and identity and develop a deeper understanding and tolerance for other cultures. 

To cover the four key language skills – listening, speaking, reading and writing - as well as basic grammar, in an age- appropriate way. 

To encourage pupils to look up and research language they are unsure of using a bank of reference materials to help them (eg. dictionaries, cahier, posters around the class).

To encourage pupils to use their language skills spontaneously out of the classroom. 

To continuously update and review content, creating a programme of study which shows clear progression throughout KS2, and which complements the rest of the curriculum. This, in turn, will help pupils improve overall attainment in other subject areas.

We follow the Language Angels four-year scheme of work, based around the strands specified in the Key Stage 2 Framework for Languages, adapting and tailoring for our own pupils and making meaningful links to other subjects to further enhance their learning experience. There is clear progression throughout the key stage, with units linking to the 12 teaching requirements set out in the Department for Education Languages Programme of Study. This progression from early language learning to progressive language learning can be clearly shown in the children’s books and in the monitoring and assessment we carry out. 

Our specific means of implementation are:

Pupils progressively acquire, use and apply a growing bank of vocabulary, language skills and grammatical knowledge through a weekly half-hour lesson taught by a language specialist. 

The teacher chooses units from the Language Angels scheme which offer the appropriate level of challenge and stretch for the classes being taught. This is generally early language units in year 3, intermediate in years 4 and 5, and progressive in year 6. Units are, wherever possible, linked to class topics and meaningful themes. Eg. WW2 in year 6, planets in year 5. 

Grammar is taught throughout the units, with the teacher following a grammar grid to ensure all pupils are learning the appropriate content. Pupils understand what they are learning at any given time, with the help of learning intention sheets in their cahier. Throughout a unit, pupils are encouraged to build more complex and sophisticated structures – language lego.

Pupils are assessed after each unit to provide reference points against which learning and progression can be demonstrated.