At St. Joseph’s, we believe that learning a foreign language is a liberation from insularity and an important gateway to understanding other cultures and ways of life.

Our intent is to develop pupils who have an enthusiastic, positive attitude towards languages and language learning, alongside the skills needed to communicate effectively in French. We recognise language learning as a lifelong skill which opens avenues for communication, travel, employment and cultural exploration.

Through our French curriculum, pupils will:

  • Develop linguistic competence and confidence in French
  • Gain insight into French culture and the wider Francophone world
  • Build resilience and self belief as language learners
  • Understand how language learning links to future education and careers

We offer a high quality, progressive programme of study that encourages enjoyment and ensures every pupil experiences success, laying strong foundations for learning at Key Stage 3 and beyond.

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Implementation

As part of the Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust, our Key Stage 2 French curriculum has been developed by a team of primary teachers and secondary language specialists. The curriculum is carefully designed to ensure learning is systematic, cumulative and progressive.

Knowledge and skills are:

  • Carefully sequenced to build on prior learning
  • Revisited regularly through review and retrieval
  • Supported by mini assessments to help pupils know more and remember more

Our curriculum fully covers the National Curriculum for Languages and is underpinned by the four key language skills:

  • Listening
  • Speaking
  • Reading
  • Writing

Progression across these skills enables pupils to both understand and produce French for effective personal communication. Vocabulary, phonics and grammar are embedded across all four strands.

Units of Work and Progression

Four key units of work are taught and revisited throughout Key Stage 2 French:

  • Basics
  • Family
  • Descriptions
  • Where I Live

These units:

  • Build progressively year on year
  • Are essential for transition into Key Stage 3 French and form a foundation for Key Stage 4
  • Have clearly defined minimum knowledge and skill ‘end points’

Each unit includes:

  • A clear rationale
  • Key French vocabulary
  • Explicit links to prior learning
  • Regular review opportunities
  • Short tasks to practise listening, speaking, reading and writing

Mini assessments are designed to prepare pupils for similar tasks in secondary school and support a smooth transition into KS3.

Teaching Approach

French lessons are designed by language specialists and delivered in a consistent format, typically as a 30 minute weekly lesson, with additional short opportunities during the week to consolidate learning.

Lessons include:

  • A strong phonics focus to support accurate French pronunciation
  • Use of authentic sound files spoken by French language specialists
  • A range of teaching strategies to engage pupils and embed learning

In addition, standalone cultural awareness lessons are taught each term to broaden pupils’ understanding of France and French speaking countries.

French and Careers

Explicit teaching of career links is embedded within every French unit.

Pupils explore how French language skills are used in real world contexts and learn about careers such as:

  • Translators and interpreters
  • Language teachers and educators
  • Travel and tourism professionals
  • International business and trade roles
  • Diplomats and international relations specialists

This helps pupils understand the purpose of learning French, raises aspirations and demonstrates how languages open doors to future opportunities.

Impact

By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils at St. Joseph’s will:

  • Have developed an enthusiastic and positive attitude towards French
  • Be confident with the sounds and written form of the French language
  • Use French with increasing confidence and competence
  • Be well prepared for further language learning at Key Stage 3

Clearly defined end points, together with a consistent approach to assessment, ensure:

  • Secure progression
  • Clear evidence of learning in pupils’ work
  • A smooth and successful transition into secondary education

Pupils leave St. Joseph’s with the language skills, confidence and cultural awareness needed to continue their study of French and engage positively with the wider world.