Intent

Bienvenue, mon ami!

At St Joseph’s, we have chosen French as our Modern Foreign Language because it provides strong foundations for further language learning in secondary school. We intend to open a window into another culture and to equip pupils with the ability to express their thoughts and ideas in both spoken and written French.

Implementation

At St Joseph’s, we have developed our own French curriculum for Key Stage 2, structured around three core topic areas that are revisited each year. This deliberate repetition supports the retrieval of key vocabulary and ensures clear progression, enabling pupils by Year 6 to apply their knowledge in practical, real-life contexts in France.
French learning is enriched through video stories, songs and games, helping to bring the language to life. Children explore vocabulary across a variety of themes, such as money, animals and school. Each topic includes:

• core vocabulary
• essential phrases
• key sentence structures
• opportunities for translation
• a purposeful hook to apply learning

Learning takes place through speaking, listening and writing. Lessons are designed to develop confident communicators in French, with opportunities throughout the week to practise a newly learnt language. Staff also look for meaningful opportunities to incorporate French into other subjects and school activities where appropriate.

Impact

Through their French lessons, pupils gain access to a wider world and a richer cultural understanding, truly becoming “welcomed friends” of another language.

Teaching nurtures curiosity and deepens global awareness. Progress is monitored through clear, skills-based topic overviews, enabling both pupils and teachers to reflect on and evaluate learning effectively.