French at Our School:

Why We Teach French

At our school, we believe that learning a foreign language is a vital part of a child’s education. French not only opens doors to other cultures and ways of thinking, but also strengthens pupils’ understanding of language itself. It builds confidence, communication skills, and curiosity about the wider world. We aim to foster a love of language learning and help children see the value of being able to communicate in another language.

How We Teach French

We follow a carefully structured curriculum that builds knowledge and skills progressively across Key Stage 2. Our teaching focuses on three key areas:

  • Phonics – helping children pronounce French accurately.
  • Vocabulary – introducing useful words and phrases for everyday situations.
  • Grammar – understanding how the language works and how to construct sentences.

These are applied through listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities. In Year 3, the focus is on oral skills, with written French introduced from Year 4 onwards. Lessons include games, role-play, group work, and detective-style tasks to make learning fun and memorable. We revisit key vocabulary and skills regularly, increasing complexity over time to help children retain and deepen their understanding.

We also make links to other subjects and encourage the use of French in the classroom. Teachers are supported with resources, pronunciation guides, and training to ensure high-quality delivery.

What We Hope Children Will Learn

By the end of Key Stage 2, we hope our pupils will:

  • Be able to hold simple conversations in French and express opinions.
  • Understand and respond to spoken French in familiar contexts.
  • Read and pronounce French words and short texts with increasing accuracy.
  • Write short texts using correct grammar and vocabulary.
  • Use dictionaries and language strategies to tackle unfamiliar words.
  • Appreciate the similarities and differences between languages and cultures.

Ultimately, we want our children to leave primary school with the confidence and skills to continue learning French—or any other language—successfully in secondary school and beyond.