French

• Achieve high quality academic outcomes. By the end of KS4, students will be doing full GCSE past papers in the four skills (Listening/ Reading/Speaking/ Writing). Learners will consolidate knowledge of vocabulary and grammar terms and structures and they will be building on the previous knowledge acquired throughout KS3 and KS4. New knowledge is acquired and consolidated on a variety of topics. Students will be monitored and targeted regularly through cyclical assessments and meta-memory AFL, questioning etc. Students will be fully aware of the requirements for the GCSE exam and with exam skills that will help them with the GCSE outcomes. Students will acquire some transferable knowledge and skills that can be used and developed further at A Level and real-life situations.
• Develop an awareness of their own strengths and acquire effective habits to be successful at school and beyond. Through the use of base line data and prelims (PLC reflection), students will be able to identify key areas of strength and weakness and address them. They will also be able to select the right thinking tools that enable them to reflect on feedback and progress further. Students will be able to prioritise the areas that need most attention and create revision resources accordingly.
• Develop long term knowledge and skills which can be effectively deployed in new circumstances. Students will be able to be confident using the target language not only for GCSE purposes but also in real life situations (for example on holidays). They will also be able to focus upon the knowledge of the exam content, focusing on the 28-mark question (in the writing), literary questions and longer and more complex translations; applying relevant lexis and grammar structures.
• Develop the cultural capital to be able to successfully engage with a wide variety of social situations. Students will study different topic areas as well as authentic material such as literary extracts to enhance their cultural awareness and study the French speaking world. Students will have the chance to participate in the Mardi Gras competition, St Nicolas assembly and French trips.
• Develop an awareness of their place as a citizen in the school, wider community and the world beyond. Students are confident working with each other collaborating throughout different tasks. The Edexcel Specification selected for study develops students’ knowledge and deals with current and global issues, which in turn develops their social awareness. As part of the course students need to present about current issues in the target language.

Key Stage 3

Year 7 is a critical year because students begin to learn how to communicate effectively in French. Students cover a variety of topics, which relate to themselves and also developing relationships with others. Students develop teamwork and organisational skills through working together. They also build upon their previous knowledge and consolidate it. Students are able to present themselves and talk about their likes and dislikes on a variety of topics such as school or sports.

In Year 7:

• All pupils are issued with Knowledge Banks.
• The textbook used in lessons is Accès for Terms 1 and 2 and then Studio 1 (Pearsons)
• Emphasis is placed on learning in class through participation in French as well as regular consolidation and further practice at home.

In Year 8 students go into more detail in terms of developing their grammar. They will be able to talk about family life and also about someone else. They will be able to talk about where they live, the weather, as well as likes and dislikes on a range of topics. Students will be able to talk about what they do in their free time and will be able to explain what they did during the previous week as well as where they would like to go in the future. Shopping appears to be important to everyone and so students learn how to describe their clothes and style. Furthermore, students are able to say what they eat and drink for different meals.

In Year 8:

• All pupils have been given Knowledge Banks with all the Year 7 topics which they should have revised during the holidays.
• All pupils are issued with Knowledge Banks for the Year tropics.
• The textbook used in lessons is Studio 2 Rouge (Pearsons) which is the follow up of Studio 1.
• Like in Year 7, emphasis is placed on learning in class through participation in class in French as well as regular consolidation and further practice at home.

In Year 9 students, go into more detail in terms of developing their grammar and topics. Students consolidate their previous learning and build upon it. They also add complexity into their answers including a range of vocabulary and expressions and the use of three different tenses. Students are also able to express their own opinion in a variety of ways.

Year 9 students will be able to talk about their holidays, family life and also about someone else. They will be able to talk about where they live, the weather, as well as likes and dislikes. Students will be able to talk about what they do in their free time and will be able to explain what they did during the previous week and where they will do the following weekend. Shopping appears to be important to everyone and so students learn how to describe where they go, when they go out and what they eat and drink. They will also be able to talk about their school and school routine.

In Year 9:

• All pupils have been given Knowledge Banks with all the Year 7 and 8 topics which they should have revised during the holidays.
• All pupils are issued with Knowledge Banks for Year 9.
• The textbook used in lessons is Studio Edexcel (Pearsons) which is the follow up of Studio 2.
• Like in Year 8, emphasis is placed on learning in class through participation in class in French as well as regular consolidation and further practice at home.

Students are encouraged to undertake their own learning outside of the classroom, by using websites such as Linguascope, Duolingo and Seneca learning.

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Year 12 and 13

Nowadays, the ability to speak other languages opens up numerous opportunities for the fields of leisure and work. There will be a shortage of qualified linguists and the students’ services will be in great demand by industry if Britain is to compete in a business context on a global level. The course encourages a greater appreciation of French language, society and culture, as well as a greater understanding of language in general. It would therefore be of great benefit to English Language and Literature students.

Being able to communicate successfully in a foreign language and to understand other cultures can open up many career avenues in fields as diverse as marketing and PR, finance and banking, media, engineering, diplomacy, security, teaching and, of course, translating and interpreting.

It is highly regarded by top universities and employers and, in an increasingly global economy, give jobseekers a competitive edge.

The British Chambers of Commerce believes that the knowledge of foreign languages is a critical skill for the UK economy.

Year 12

Year 13