French
Overview
The French curriculum is carefully sequenced to provide a coherent subject scheme that develops children’s knowledge, skills and understanding of a foreign language over time. Using the Language Angels scheme of work, learning is structured to ensure that key language skills are revisited and developed across each year group, building progressively on prior knowledge.
The curriculum focuses on four key language skills:
- Listening
- Speaking
- Reading
- Writing
These skills are taught alongside age-appropriate grammar and vocabulary, enabling children to communicate with increasing confidence and accuracy.
The curriculum is designed to:
- Inspire curiosity and enjoyment in language learning
- Develop understanding of language structure and patterns
- Build awareness of different cultures and communities
- Provide a strong foundation for future language learning
Children progressively acquire, use and apply a growing bank of vocabulary and grammatical knowledge, enabling them to express themselves with increasing independence.
Key Stage 1
In Key Stage 1, children are introduced to early language learning through exposure to simple vocabulary, songs and speaking activities.
Children begin to:
- Listen to and repeat familiar words and phrases
- Develop confidence in speaking aloud
- Recognise simple sounds and patterns in a new language
- Engage with songs, stories and rhymes
These early experiences focus on:
- Building confidence and enjoyment
- Developing listening skills
- Introducing basic vocabulary
This provides a strong foundation for more structured language learning in Key Stage 2.
Lower Key Stage 2
In Lower Key Stage 2, children begin more structured language learning through the Language Angels Early Language and Intermediate units.
Children learn to:
- Understand and respond to spoken and written language
- Speak in short phrases and sentences
- Read and understand simple texts
- Write basic words and phrases from memory
They begin to develop understanding of:
- Basic grammar, including nouns, articles and simple verbs
- Sentence structure and word order
- How to use language in practical contexts
Children build confidence through:
- Repetition and practice
- Structured speaking activities
- Opportunities to apply language in different contexts
Upper Key Stage 2
In Upper Key Stage 2, children deepen and extend their language learning through Intermediate and Progressive units.
They learn to:
- Speak with increasing fluency and accuracy
- Read and understand longer texts
- Write sentences and short paragraphs independently
- Use a wider range of vocabulary and grammar
Children develop understanding of:
- More complex grammar, including verb conjugation and sentence structure
- Expressing opinions and justifying ideas
- Applying language in a range of contexts
They are encouraged to:
- Build longer spoken and written responses
- Use previously learnt language with increasing independence
- Develop confidence in communicating in French
By the end of Key Stage 2, children are able to understand and communicate in French with growing confidence and accuracy.
Implementation
French is taught through the Language Angels programme, which provides a structured and progressive sequence of lessons across Key Stage 2.
Lessons are:
- Taught regularly through well-planned, sequenced units
- Built around engaging topics and themes
- Designed to progressively develop language skills
Each unit:
- Is taught over a sequence of lessons
- Builds knowledge and skills step by step
- Includes listening, speaking, reading and writing activities
Teaching includes:
- Interactive speaking and listening tasks
- Opportunities to read and write with increasing independence
- Explicit teaching of grammar in an age-appropriate way
- Regular revisiting and consolidation of prior learning
Learning is carefully matched to children’s stage through the Language Angels teaching types:
- Early Language units (entry level)
- Intermediate units (developing knowledge)
- Progressive units (greater depth and complexity)
This ensures that all children are appropriately challenged and supported as they progress.
Impact
By the time children leave St Paul’s, they have developed:
- Confidence in speaking and understanding French
- A secure foundation in key language skills
- The ability to read and write simple texts
- An understanding of basic grammar and sentence structure
Children can:
- Communicate using familiar vocabulary and structures
- Understand spoken and written language
- Apply their learning in different contexts
- Show curiosity and appreciation for other languages and cultures
Children show clear progression over time, developing from early exposure to language through to increasingly confident and independent language use.
Most importantly, children develop a positive attitude towards language learning and are well prepared to continue studying languages at secondary school.