French
Aim: That pupils can connect with people around the world.
We have designed a vocabulary rich curriculum that connects learning by building an understanding of ideas, concepts, chronology and themes through the framework of ‘here, there and then, now, next’. These thinking threads link learning meaningfully to create opportunities to learn from the past and present as well as equipping children for an ever-changing and exciting future.
In French, we communicate effectively here and now, drawing on the language’s cultural roots from then, and developing skills to engage globally next, fostering appreciation of different cultures.
We want pupils to develop the confidence to communicate in French for practical purposes, using both written and spoken French. We aim to give pupils a foundation for language learning that encourages and enables them to apply their skills to learning further languages, developing a strong understanding of the English language, facilitating future study and opening opportunities to study and work in other countries in the future.
At Halwin School, students in KS2 benefit from weekly, high-quality French lessons guided by the Language Angels scheme of work. Our curriculum is built on the three core pillars of language learning: phonics, vocabulary, and grammar, ensuring a robust foundation in French. Lessons focus on practical topics such as greetings, numbers, colours, food, and weather, enabling students to answer questions, express opinions, and communicate confidently in everyday scenarios.
This structured approach introduces phonics early, emphasizing correct pronunciation, while vocabulary is taught in small, meaningful chunks to build a broad and useful word base. Grammar is gradually layered, supporting students as they progress from simple phrases to more complex sentence structures, fostering both accuracy and confidence in their use of French.
Through engaging activities, students develop their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills using songs, stories, and actions to enhance their understanding and appreciation of the French language and culture. Informal opportunities, such as greetings during registration or interactions with visitors, provide real-life contexts for conversational practice, further enriching their learning experience. After the implementation of Language Angels, pupils should leave school equipped with a range of language-learning skills to enable them to study French, or any other language, with confidence at Key Stage 3.