French

Subject Lead: Ms V Myers

INTENT

We use the Language Angels 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. 

The four key language learning skills OF listening, speaking, reading and writing are taught and all necessary grammar covered in an age-appropriate way across Key Stage 2. This enables 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.

Our 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. It is our aspiration for pupils to work towards becoming lifelong language learners.

At Arden, we teach French using the ‘Language Angels’ scheme of work and resources. This progressively develops pupils’ skills in French through regularly taught and well-planned weekly lessons in Key Stage 2. Children 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. All teachers know where every child is at any point in their foreign language learning journey.

The planning of different levels of challenge and which units to teach at each stage of the academic year is addressed dynamically and is reviewed in detail annually as units are updated and added to the scheme. Lessons offering appropriate levels of challenge and stretch are taught at all times to ensure pupils learn effectively, continuously building their knowledge of and enthusiasm for the language they are learning.

Early Language units are entry-level units and introduce Year 3 and 4 children to French. Intermediate units increase the level of challenge by increasing the amount and complexity (including foreign language grammar concepts) of the foreign language presented to pupils. These units are used for pupils in Years 4-6. Children are taught how to listen to and read longer pieces of text gradually in French and have ample opportunities to speak, listen to, read, and write the language being taught with and without scaffolds, frames, and varying levels of support.

We scrutinise the efficiency of our teaching approach and its impact on children's knowledge, understanding and progress through: 

  • Information from formal book scrutinies
  • Termly teacher assessments
  • Subject leader monitoring
  • Learning walks
  • Lesson observations
  • Lesson drop ins
  • Weekly 'Friday Flicks'
  • Pupil voice
  • School Improvement Team liaison
  • Governor visits
  • French 'One Voice' documentation