Intent

At Witherley C.E Primary School our language curriculum fosters a lifelong love for language learning. We believe learning French enhances cognitive skills and fosters cultural awareness, especially in Francophone countries across Europe, Africa, and the Americas, and that French is a gateway to understanding global cultures and international institutions where French is an official language. All pupils 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.

Our decision to select French is because we feel it is widely supported with access to knowledge and resources, is historically embedded in UK education, and offers strong continuity into secondary school. Research suggests that French shares many linguistic roots with English, making it relatively accessible for young learners; its phonetics and grammar are often considered more approachable.

The intent is that all content will be continuously updated and reviewed annually, creating a dynamic programme of study that will be clearly outlined in both long-term and short-term planning. This will ensure that the foreign language knowledge of our pupils progresses within each academic year and is extended year upon year throughout the primary phase 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. 

Implementation

Our engaging curriculum is designed to help the learning of the French language to flourish. We have a LKS2 and UKS2 progressive approach to teaching French using a well-structured model to ensure that progress is made in French, preparing our pupils for the next stage of learning in Key Stage 3. Both KS2 classes (years 3 to 6) have access to a very high-quality foreign language curriculum using the Language Angels scheme of work and resources. This will progressively develop pupils' skills in French through weekly, well-planned, thirty-minute lessons. French is taught only in Key Stage 2 and is taught by Miss Jones (3 & 4 class teacher) and Miss Banks (year 5 & 6 class teacher).

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 blocks of language into more complex, fluent and authentic language. Teachers will know where every child is at any point in their foreign language learning journey.

French is recorded through verbal, written (whiteboards) and worksheets where needed. The planning of different levels of challenge (as demonstrated in the various Language Angels Teaching Type categories) and which units to teach at each stage of the academic year will be addressed dynamically and will be reviewed in detail annually as units are updated and added to the scheme.

Lessons offering appropriate levels of challenge and stretch will be taught to ensure pupils learn effectively, continuously building their knowledge of and enthusiasm for French. As pupils progress though the lessons in a unit they will build their knowledge and develop the complexity of the French language. Pupil learning and progression will be assessed at the Teacher’s discretion; this will be live assessment and based on teacher judgement.

Staff receive specific developmental training for the teaching of languages. Language Angels also provides the opportunity for staff to upskill their own French in preparation for each half term’s unit as well as offering supportive resources to ensure that French is heard and modelled in a native tongue. 

Impact

Our high-quality languages curriculum is carefully planned and structured to demonstrate progress.  The language topics have been chosen to engage the children whilst ensuring that the National Curriculum aims are addressed and DFE attainment targets are covered.  

We measure the impact of our languages curriculum through: pupil discussions about their learning; monitoring and reflection against subject-specific skills defined in each year of study; children applying their knowledge of language to other areas of the curriculum; children applying their cultural understanding and tolerance across society and cultures.

When our pupils leave Witherley C of E Primary School, they will have developed the necessary vocabulary, knowledge and skills to build on their French language learning or transfer these if they choose to study further languages.  They will be equipped with a greater appreciation for the French language, a deeper knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life.