National Curriculum Purpose of Study

Learning a foreign language is a liberation from insularity and provides an opening to other cultures. A high-quality languages education should foster pupils’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world. The teaching should enable pupils to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and in writing. It should also provide opportunities for them to communicate for practical purposes, learn new ways of thinking and read great literature in the original language. Language teaching should provide the foundation for learning further languages, equipping pupils to study and work in other countries.

Intent- What Do We Aspire for Our Pupils?

At St Anne’s we use the Language Angels French scheme of work and resources to ensure we offer a relevant, broad, vibrant and ambitious foreign languages curriculum that will inspire and excite our pupils using a wide variety of topics and themes. All children will be expected to achieve their full potential by encouraging high expectations and excellent standards in their foreign language learning - the ultimate aim being that pupils will feel willing and able to continue studying languages beyond key stage 2.

The long term plan ensures the French language knowledge of our pupils progresses within each academic year and is extended year upon year throughout KS2 and, in so doing, will always be relevant and in line with meeting or exceeding national DfE requirements. 

The four key language learning skills; listening, speaking, reading and writing will be taught and all necessary grammar will be covered in an age-appropriate way across the primary phase. This will enable pupils to use and apply their learning in a variety of contexts, laying down solid foundations for future language learning and also helping the children improve overall attainment in other subject areas.

The intent is that all pupils will develop a genuine interest and positive curiosity about foreign languages, finding them enjoyable and stimulating. Learning a second language will also offer pupils the opportunity to explore relationships between language and identity, develop a deeper understanding of other cultures and the world around them with a better awareness of self, others and cultural differences. The intention is that they will be working towards becoming life-long language learners.

At St Anne’s we use the Language Angels French scheme of work and resources to ensure we offer a relevant, broad, vibrant and ambitious foreign languages curriculum that will inspire and excite our pupils using a wide variety of topics and themes. All children will be expected to achieve their full potential by encouraging high expectations and excellent standards in their foreign language learning - the ultimate aim being that pupils will feel willing and able to continue studying languages beyond key stage 2.

The long term plan ensures the French language knowledge of our pupils progresses within each academic year and is extended year upon year throughout KS2 and, in so doing, will always be relevant and in line with meeting or exceeding national DfE requirements. 

The four key language learning skills; listening, speaking, reading and writing will be taught and all necessary grammar will be covered in an age-appropriate way across the primary phase. This will enable pupils to use and apply their learning in a variety of contexts, laying down solid foundations for future language learning and also helping the children improve overall attainment in other subject areas.

The intent is that all pupils will develop a genuine interest and positive curiosity about foreign languages, finding them enjoyable and stimulating. Learning a second language will also offer pupils the opportunity to explore relationships between language and identity, develop a deeper understanding of other cultures and the world around them with a better awareness of self, others and cultural differences. The intention is that they will be working towards becoming life-long language learners.

Characteristics of a Linguist

• The confidence to speak with good intonation and pronunciation.
• Fluency in reading.
• Fluency and imagination in writing.
• A strong awareness of the culture of the countries where the language is spoken.
• A passion for languages and a commitment to the subject.
• The ability to use language creatively and spontaneously.
• An independence in their studies and the ability to draw upon a wide range of resources.

Implementation - How We Will Deliver the Curriculum

Our children will have access to a high-quality foreign languages curriculum using the Language Angels scheme of work and resources. This will progressively develop pupil skills in foreign languages in years 3-6.  Children will progressively acquire, use and apply a growing bank of vocabulary, language skills and grammatical knowledge organised around age-appropriate topics and themes,  building their knowledge of and enthusiasm for the language they are learning.

Children will build on previous knowledge gradually as the French lessons continue to recycle, revise and consolidate previously learnt language whilst building on all four language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Knowledge and awareness of required and appropriate grammar concepts will be taught throughout all units at all levels of challenge. Grammar is integrated and taught discreetly throughout all appropriate units.

Promoting linguistic and cultural diversity

Children are encouraged towards a lifelong love of  language learning which promotes respect for not only each other but also inside the school and within the wider communities and society. French lessons not only progress children’s linguistic skills but also their confidence and self-esteem. Children work collaboratively and celebrate each other’s achievements by becoming aware of the challenge communication presents. Language learning teaches the value of the importance of our own cultural identity, practices and values as well as those from people in other countries. Children learn to be tolerant of others and have a greater acceptance of the world we live in and its cultural diversity. Children are encourage to consider the status of French around the world and understand the range of countries that speak French. 

Aspirations For The Future

Pupils develop an understanding of how subjects and specific skills are linked to future jobs.

Here are some of the jobs you could aspire to do in the future as a Linguist:

• Attractions manager
• Teachers in other countries
• Chefs 
• Hotel managers
• Leisure and tourism
• International law 

For more careers, please visit First Careers.

Impact - How Do We Know Our French Language Curriculum is Effective?

Through the explicit teaching of the Language skills, both the teachers and the pupils assess their learning formatively throughout the lessons.  At the end of the units, summative assessments are made using the end of unit skills assessment, to support planning adaptations for future lessons. 

Retrieval activities are built into lesson sequences to support long-term memory of key knowledge.   

Pupil Voice

“We are happy learning French at school”

“I would like to do longer lessons!”

“I enjoy learning a new language. I can teach something to other people and my family – if I go abroad I can speak a language which is really good"

“I like practising conversations, this helps me build my confidence”

“I like speaking with my friends and helping my friends pronounce words.”

"I feel confident in French which makes me feel good."

"We can use languages to speak to people who cannot speak English - refugees"