Curriculum Vision and Intent
Our Languages department curriculum focuses on literacy, oratory, curiosity and critical thinking.
We aim to:
- create a safe learning environment for all students rooted in mutual respect, compassion and tolerance.
- develop inquiring minds when learning about Spanish and French speaking communities and countries around the world and to analyse their socio-political context, so that all students become curious, just and friendly
- build students’ cultural capital and wisdom through a decolonised curriculum so as to recognise diverse cultures and ways of life, by promoting knowledge and understanding of a range of cultures to which students can identify with.
- ensure that students are able to participate in a wide range of opportunities beyond the classroom, including clubs and trips, so as to broaden their horizons, giving them hope and ambition for the future.
- develop literacy and oratory in lessons so that students can become eloquent and confident communicators in the future by creating opportunities to work on all four skills.
KS3 curriculum and assessment
Year 7 Curriculum
In Year 7, French lessons aim to develop skills that will enable the students to communicate at a basic level in the target language. We recognise that our learners will have different starting points based on their experience of French at primary school. Although, at first, the main emphasis is on receptive skills such as listening and reading, the students are soon expected to perform role-plays, sing songs, write short messages and decode spoken or written texts. Regular -ER verbs as well as a number of essential irregular verbs are introduced including: être, avoir, aller and faire. Although students mainly use the 1st and 3rd person conjugation, when communicating opinion, habits and action, we also encourage the more idiomatic use of ‘on’. Students are able to take charge of their learning by accessing the topic list vocabulary glossaries in advance, to support research and revision.
Assessments
Students will complete a test at the end of every module based on different skills, such as listening, reading, translations, writing and speaking.
Year 8 Curriculum
In Year 8, students are expected to develop their listening, reading, writing and speaking skills in French. The course is divided into 5 units of work, each covering a different theme, which parallels the Studio 2 Rouge course. The topics covered include: leisure, holidays, relationships, and the local area. We also enjoy finding out more about different French speaking countries and societies. Role plays and mini presentations enable the class to develop their speaking skills and students should make the most of the opportunity to try out their French in the classroom setting, communicating with their peers and teachers. The course coverage at this stage includes more challenging grammar such as reflexive verbs, past and near future tense, giving our learners more confidence and courage to use key aspects of the French language.
Assessments
Students will complete a test at the end of every module based on different skills, such as listening, reading, translations, writing and speaking.
Year 9 Curriculum
In Year 9 students are supported in developing further the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. We follow the main topics in the Studio 3 course (Rouge), as well as looking ahead to the more challenging components of the GCSE Studio textbook. The themes selected are relevant to our students not just as linguists, but also as young citizens in their own right, particularly through popular themes such as the environment, fair trade and human rights. The ability to do this in French, acquiring the conditional, future and imperfect tenses, is all the more pertinent.
Assessments
Students will complete a test at the end of every module based on different skills, such as listening, reading, translations, writing and speaking.
KS4 curriculum and assessment
GCSE Curriculum
Students studying French in Years 10 & 11 follow the Edexcel GCSE syllabus. During the course of Year 10, they will cover a certain number of topics such as: family, hobbies, school and future careers, town and local area, transport and travelling, environment and social issues. The aim of the course is to encourage communication skills both orally and in writing.
These topics will build on students’ cultural capital as they are exposed to literature and culture from different French speaking countries and societies. The focus is on developing their vocabulary further and going into more depth over grammatical structures they will need to master, should they wish to continue their French studies to A level.
Assessments
Students will complete a test at the end of every module based on different skills, such as listening, reading, translations, writing and speaking.
Students will complete one exam per skill in their mock examination and in their final GCSE examinations.
Paper 1: Listening and understanding
Foundation tier: 35 minutes (50 marks)
Higher tier: 45 minutes (50 marks)
25% of the total qualification.
Paper 2: Speaking
Foundation tier: 7-9 minutes, plus 12 minutes preparation time (70 marks)
Higher tier: 10-12 minutes, plus 12 minutes preparation time (70 marks) 25% of the total qualification.
Paper 3: Reading and understanding in French
Foundation tier: 45 minutes (50 marks)
Higher tier: 1 hour (50 minutes)
Includes a translation passage from French to English
25% of the total qualification.
Paper 4: Writing
Foundation tier: 1 hour 10 minutes (60 marks)
Higher tier: 1 hour 20 minutes (60 minutes)
Includes a translation passage from English to French
25% of the total qualification.
KS5 curriculum and assessment
What will I study?
In addition to lessons spent on the various literary and linguistic tasks, strong commitment outside the classroom is expected, in terms of reading for pleasure, visits to the theatre and cinema, and study visits to France. Students will have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and understanding of target-language culture by exploring several aspects of the culture and the French-speaking world. They will have a wide range of topics including the contemporary theme of the changing family structure to controversial topics such as immigration and integration. Students enjoy the novelty and challenge of reading literary works and studying French film. A trip to France, taking place every two years, provides a further opportunity for students to develop their language skills and enhance their cultural knowledge.
Yr12 Topics
Theme 1: Changes in the French society
- Changes in family structures.
- Education
- The world of Work
Theme 2: Culture in the French speaking countries.
- Music
- Media
- Festivals and traditions.
Yr13 Topics
Theme 3: Immigration and multicultural society in France.
- The positive impact of immigration in France
- The challenges of immigration and integration in France
- The far right.
Theme 4: The Occupation and Resistance.
- The Occupation in France.
- The Regime of Vichy
- The Resistance.
How will I be assessed?
At A Level students will be assessed as follows in accordance to the Edexcel course:
Paper 1: Listening, Reading and Translation (2 hours)
40% of the A level (80 marks)
Paper 2: Written Response to Works and Translation (2 hours 40minutes)
30% of the A level (120 marks)
Paper 3: Speaking minutes
30% 21-23 minutes of the A level (72 marks)
What are the entry requirements?
A minimum of a grade 7 at GCSE French is required. The course calls for full commitment, both in and outside of lessons to build confidence, proficiency and accuracy. The French language, culture and literature are stimulating areas of study and excellent training for higher education.
Combinations
A modern language can be a very useful qualification combined with other subjects, especially in the light of international opportunities in the UK and abroad. A number of universities offer courses combining a subject with French, in an effort to prepare students to become the international, political and business leaders of tomorrow.
Extra and super-curricular opportunities
Students can enjoy trips to the theatre, conferences and to the cinema, also benefiting from the language events and French resources at L’Institut Français, which is in close proximity.
Students can also apply to attend a biannual trip abroad to a region in France, where they can visit museums, historical sites and experience the French culture first hand by applying their linguistic skills and cultural awareness.
Future opportunities (careers, university courses)
In a world where the knowledge of an additional language is increasingly becoming a valued asset, students with an A level in French will have access to a wider range of careers. These include working for the European institutions, international business, teaching, translation and the tourism and leisure industries.
