French
Our French Curriculum has been sequenced and mapped deliberately and coherently. Through Primary Languages Network, we aim to teach high quality, well thought out and knowledge rich lessons that demonstrate progression.
Intent
At Rectory C.E. Primary School, our French curriculum is deliberately sequenced and coherently mapped to ensure that pupils develop a strong foundation in language learning. Using the Primary Languages Network scheme, we deliver high-quality, well-structured, and knowledge-rich lessons that promote progression across Key Stage 2.
A high-quality languages education should foster children’s curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world, including cultural similarities and differences. We are committed to ensuring that competence in another language enables children to interpret, create, and exchange meaning within and across cultures.
Our curriculum provides an appropriate balance of spoken and written language, laying the foundations for further language learning at Key Stage 3 and beyond. It also helps children develop resilience and transferable language-learning strategies, opening doors to future opportunities in education, travel, and global citizenship.
Through engaging and purposeful lessons, we aim to help pupils:
🗣️ Communicate with increasing fluency and confidence in French
📚 Develop a broad vocabulary and understanding of grammar
🌍 Appreciate and respect the cultures of French-speaking communities
🧠 Build skills that support lifelong language learning
By embedding French into our curriculum, we nurture confident, curious learners who are ready to explore the wider world with enthusiasm and understanding.
Implementation
At Rectory C.E. Primary School, French is introduced in Key Stage 2 and taught in a dedicated 45-minute lesson each week. We follow the Janet Lloyd Primary Languages Network scheme, which ensures full coverage of the National Curriculum and provides structured support for all teaching staff, regardless of their language background.
Our curriculum is carefully planned to expose pupils to key phonic sounds, core vocabulary, and progressive grammar, enabling them to build and manipulate increasingly complex sentences over time. Lessons are designed to be cumulative, moving from single words to full sentences across the four years, with Year 6 focusing on consolidation and mastery.
To enhance language acquisition, pupils regularly hear native French speakers through high-quality audio resources. They also develop language learning strategies such as memorisation, retrieval, and the use of bi-lingual dictionaries to decode unfamiliar vocabulary.
We enrich learning through songs, stories, and rhymes, helping pupils to internalise pronunciation and rhythm while making meaningful connections between French and their own language. This approach supports not only linguistic development but also a deeper understanding of how languages work and differ
Impact
At Rectory C.E. Primary School, the impact of our French curriculum is reflected in pupils’ growing confidence, curiosity, and competence in language learning. Through consistent, high-quality teaching, children develop the ability to understand and communicate in French, both orally and in writing.
By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils:
🗣️ Speak with increasing fluency, accurate pronunciation, and intonation
✍️ Write simple phrases and sentences using familiar vocabulary and grammar
📚 Understand spoken and written French in a range of familiar contexts
🌍 Show appreciation for French culture and make comparisons with their own
🧠 Apply language learning strategies, including using dictionaries and recognising patterns
Our pupils leave primary school with a strong foundation in French, ready to build on their skills at Key Stage 3 and beyond, and equipped with the confidence to explore new languages and cultures.