French
At Saint Mary’s school children learn French from Year 3 until they leave in Year 6.
Intention Statement
Our intent is that children will develop a love of language learning. They will be introduced to the French language through listening to music, traditional stories and native speakers; they will be able to articulate themselves, read stories and begin to understand the structures of French.
Children will grow in awareness of similarities and differences between cultures, deepening their understanding of the world, laying the foundation for future language learning to equip them eventually to work and study abroad.
Implementation
At Saint Mary’s, French is taught across Key Stage 2, using Language Angels resources, supplemented by Singing French, Take 10 (song books with modern and traditional French songs), and French traditional story books. French is taught discreetly each week in Years 3 to 6.
Impact
The Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) curriculum at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School ensures pupils develop a strong foundation in language learning, fostering curiosity, confidence and enjoyment in communicating in another language. Through weekly, well-structured French lessons in Key Stage 2, pupils build secure knowledge of key vocabulary, language structures and pronunciation, and gain confidence in their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.
As a result of this curriculum, children demonstrate increased confidence in using French to express ideas and interact with others. They show a growing ability to understand spoken language, apply accurate pronunciation, and begin to interpret written texts. Their developing linguistic skills support deeper intercultural understanding and broaden pupils’ awareness of other cultures and perspectives, enriching their understanding of the wider world.
Pupils leave St Mary’s with a positive attitude towards language learning, equipped with the essential skills and cultural appreciation needed to progress successfully in future language study at secondary school and beyond.
