French

Intent

At Olga, our French curriculum aims to spark a love of language learning and nurture an appreciation of diverse cultures. We want our pupils to develop the confidence to communicate in French for real and practical purposes, both in speech and writing. By learning French, pupils gain more than vocabulary: they build resilience, problem-solving skills, and cultural awareness that broadens their horizons.

Our intention is to provide a strong foundation for language learning by:

• Giving pupils the transferable skills and confidence to learn additional languages in the future.
• Building a deeper understanding of the English language through comparison with French.
• Creating opportunities for pupils to appreciate cultural diversity and global citizenship.
• Preparing pupils for language study at Key Stage 3 and beyond, as well as opening possible doors for travel, study, and work in other countries.

In this way, our French scheme supports pupils to meet the Key Stage 2 attainment targets set out in the National Curriculum, while also fostering curiosity and passion for lifelong language learning.

Implementation

Our French curriculum is carefully structured around three interwoven knowledge strands which progress year on year, ensuring a secure accumulation of skills. The curriculum is organised as a spiral model: key vocabulary, grammar, and communication skills are revisited with increasing depth and complexity across the primary years.

Through clear progression of knowledge and skills, each unit builds systematically towards the end of Key Stage 2 expectations. Lessons are designed to provide balanced opportunities for spoken and written communication, with a strong focus on purposeful language use in familiar topics and real-life contexts.

Learning in French is practical, engaging, and varied:

• Pupils practise listening, speaking, reading, and writing in French through role-play, games, songs, and structured conversations.
• Independent work, paired activities, and group tasks encourage collaboration and confidence.
• “Language detective work” helps pupils make connections between French and English, building their understanding of grammar and vocabulary.
• Cross-curricular opportunities are embedded, allowing pupils to apply language learning across subjects such as Geography, History, and Art.

Teaching is adaptive, creative, and inclusive, ensuring that every child is supported and challenged appropriately to make progress in their language journey.

Impact

The impact of our French curriculum is monitored continually through both formative and summative assessment. Teachers assess pupils’ progress against clear learning objectives, ensuring that knowledge and skills are securely embedded.

By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils will:

• Be able to communicate with increasing confidence in spoken and written French.
• Demonstrate curiosity, enthusiasm, and resilience as language learners.
• Apply key language-learning strategies, equipping them not only for French but for any additional languages they choose to study.
• Leave Olga well-prepared to continue their language learning at Key Stage 3, with the knowledge, skills, and cultural awareness that will support them in becoming global citizens.

Ultimately, our pupils leave with the sense that learning a language is not just about words, but about broadening their perspective and opening new windows to the world.