Subject Lead : Mr S Armstrong

Intent 

At Fairburn View Primary School, our vision is that “Through a safe, positive, empowering environment, we can be anything.” Our French curriculum reflects this ambition by inspiring pupils to become curious, confident and enthusiastic language learners who develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to think and communicate like linguists.

Through our French curriculum, we aim to develop pupils’ ability to listen, speak, read and write in another language, encouraging them to embrace new challenges, develop confidence and recognise their potential as successful language learners. Our curriculum promotes aspiration by broadening pupils’ horizons, raising ambitions and providing opportunities to explore languages and cultures beyond their immediate experiences.

We promote empowerment by equipping pupils with the linguistic knowledge, communication skills and confidence to express themselves, make connections and develop independence in their learning. Through a progressive and ambitious curriculum, pupils are encouraged to take risks, persevere and recognise that learning another language opens doors to future opportunities.

Our commitment to safety ensures that French lessons provide an inclusive, supportive environment where all pupils feel confident to participate, practise unfamiliar vocabulary and make mistakes without fear of judgement. Learning is carefully structured and adapted to ensure that every child, regardless of their starting point or individual needs, can experience success.

Through positivity, we nurture enjoyment, curiosity and enthusiasm for language learning. Pupils are encouraged to celebrate their achievements, appreciate cultural diversity and develop respect for people from different backgrounds and communities. By exploring French language and culture, pupils develop a greater understanding of the wider world and their place within it.

Our curriculum also supports teachers in developing strong subject knowledge and effective teaching approaches, ensuring that learning is engaging, accessible and ambitious for all.

Ultimately, our French curriculum brings our school vision to life by empowering every pupil to see themselves as a capable linguist, an open-minded global citizen and a confident learner who understands that, at Fairburn View, we can be anything.

Implementation

At Fairburn View Primary School, we deliver a broad, balanced and progressive French curriculum through the Kapow Primary scheme of work, which is carefully sequenced to meet the requirements of the National Curriculum for Languages in Key Stage 2.

Our curriculum follows a spiral approach, enabling pupils to revisit and build upon previously acquired knowledge and skills with increasing complexity. Learning is structured around three key pillars of language development: phonics, vocabulary and grammar, alongside language comprehension (listening and reading), language production (speaking and writing) and cultural awareness.

French lessons provide opportunities for pupils to:

• Develop accurate pronunciation through explicit phonics teaching, modelling and listening to native French speakers.

• Acquire and apply increasingly complex vocabulary and grammatical structures.

• Develop confidence and fluency in listening, speaking, reading and writing through engaging, practical activities.

• Revisit and retrieve prior learning regularly to strengthen understanding and long-term retention.

• Explore French language and culture, developing an appreciation of diversity and the wider world.

Lessons follow a consistent structure, incorporating retrieval activities, engaging introductions, explicit teaching, guided and independent practice, and opportunities to reflect upon learning. A range of interactive resources, including songs, videos, conversations and practical activities, supports pupil engagement and develops confidence in communicating in French.

Adaptive teaching is embedded throughout the curriculum, ensuring that all pupils, including those with SEND, can access learning and achieve success. Scaffolding, visual resources, multisensory approaches and appropriately structured activities support individual learning needs, while opportunities for greater challenge promote aspiration and independence.

Lessons promote British Values (democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance) by incorporating activities that encourage debate, respect for differing opinions and an understanding of societal structures.  Our French curriculum broadens pupils’ experiences by immersing them in the language, culture and heritage of France, which helps pupils appreciate cultural diversity, develop global awareness and communicate with confidence in an increasingly connected society.

Through our French curriculum, pupils have opportunities to develop their oracy skills by:

• Developing the physical skills required for speech by utilising their voice, body language, and facial expressions to better communicate in French.
• Explicitly considering the role of syntax in French communication and reflecting on the differences with English to deepen understanding.
• Role-playing as French speakers to practise conversational skills.
• Questioning and responding in French to develop communication skills.
• Interpreting the speech of native French speakers, learning to gist and summarise meaning.
• Listening to native French speakers and peers to enhance listening skills.
• Collaborating in groups and turn-taking during conversations.

Assessment is integral to teaching and learning. Teachers use questioning, observation, discussion and retrieval activities to identify misconceptions, assess understanding and adapt future teaching. Kapow's assessment resources, including knowledge catchers and unit quizzes, support the monitoring of pupils' progress and retention of key knowledge.

Teachers are supported through Kapow's detailed planning, subject knowledge resources and professional development materials, ensuring consistent, high-quality teaching across Key Stage 2.

Through this carefully planned approach, we provide a safe, positive and empowering learning environment where pupils develop the confidence to embrace new challenges, celebrate their achievements and recognise their potential as successful language learners, reflecting our school vision that “We can be anything.”

Impact

At Fairburn View Primary School, the impact of our French curriculum is demonstrated through pupils' developing knowledge, skills, confidence and enthusiasm for language learning. Through the progressive Kapow Primary scheme, pupils build secure foundations in phonics, vocabulary and grammar, enabling them to communicate increasingly effectively in French.

By the end of Key Stage 2, we aim for pupils to:

• Demonstrate progression in listening, speaking, reading and writing in French, applying their knowledge with increasing accuracy, confidence and independence.

• Understand and use a growing range of French vocabulary, grammatical structures and pronunciation patterns.

• Engage in simple conversations, ask and answer questions, express opinions and communicate ideas in familiar contexts.

• Read and understand familiar French words, phrases and short texts, and write simple sentences using their developing linguistic knowledge.

• Make connections between languages and cultures, demonstrating curiosity, respect and appreciation for diversity.

• Develop the confidence, resilience and aspiration to continue learning languages at secondary school and beyond.

Assessment

Assessment is embedded throughout our French curriculum to ensure pupils build upon prior learning and make sustained progress. Teachers use ongoing formative assessment, including questioning, observation, verbal responses, practical activities and retrieval opportunities, to identify pupils' understanding and address misconceptions.

Kapow's assessment opportunities, including knowledge catchers and unit assessments, support teachers in evaluating pupils' acquisition and retention of key knowledge and skills. Evidence from pupils' written work, spoken language and classroom activities demonstrates progression over time.

Assessment outcomes are used to identify gaps in learning, inform future teaching and ensure appropriate support and challenge for all pupils, including those with SEND and disadvantaged pupils.

Evaluating Curriculum Effectiveness

The effectiveness of our French curriculum is monitored through subject leadership activities, including reviews of planning and pupils' work, pupil voice, lesson visits and discussions with teaching staff.

These activities enable leaders to evaluate the quality of teaching, consistency of curriculum delivery and progression in pupils' knowledge and skills across Key Stage 2. Findings inform subject development priorities, professional development and ongoing curriculum refinement.

Pupil voice is particularly important in evaluating whether children enjoy learning French, feel confident communicating in another language and recognise the relevance of language learning beyond the classroom.

Reflecting Our School Vision and Values

The impact of our French curriculum extends beyond linguistic knowledge. Through aspiration, pupils recognise the opportunities that learning another language can provide. Through empowerment, they develop the confidence and independence to communicate in unfamiliar situations. Through safety, they feel supported to practise, make mistakes and learn from challenges. Through positivity, they develop enthusiasm, curiosity and respect for other languages and cultures.

Ultimately, our French curriculum aims to develop confident, capable and culturally aware learners who are prepared for the next stage of their education and inspired to explore the wider world, reflecting our school belief that “We can be anything.

National curriculum in England: languages programmes of study