French lessons are lively, engaging and practical, helping pupils to build confidence and enthusiasm. Children learn everyday vocabulary and phrases linked to topics that are meaningful and relevant to them, such as greetings, numbers, colours, family, food, animals and school life. Through regular practice, they develop their pronunciation, vocabulary and understanding of simple grammar.

We bring French to life through songs, stories, games, role-play, videos and cultural experiences. Children learn about life in French-speaking countries and explore traditions, celebrations and customs, helping them to appreciate cultural diversity and broaden their understanding of the world. These real-life connections make language learning enjoyable, meaningful and memorable.

Active participation is at the heart of our French curriculum. Pupils enjoy speaking and listening activities, language games, partner work and interactive tasks that encourage communication and collaboration. They learn to express themselves confidently, take risks with language and celebrate their progress.

As children move through the school, they develop key language-learning skills, including accurate pronunciation, recalling vocabulary, forming sentences, asking and answering questions, and understanding basic grammatical structures. They begin to recognise patterns in language and develop strategies that will help them learn other languages in the future.

By the time pupils leave our school, we want them to have a strong foundation in French, confidence in communicating in another language and an appreciation of different cultures and ways of life. Above all, we want them to develop curiosity, respect and enthusiasm for languages, equipping them to thrive in an increasingly connected world.

 

Our French curriculum is ambitious, inclusive and accessible to all learners. It provides meaningful contexts that engage and motivate children, enabling them to see the relevance and purpose of language learning beyond the classroom. Learning is enriched through songs, stories, games, role-play and cultural exploration, helping pupils to develop confidence and enjoyment in speaking, listening, reading and writing French. The curriculum is carefully adapted to meet the needs of all learners, including those with additional needs, and regular assessment ensures that learning is appropriately challenging and supportive.Key Concepts within our French Curriculum:

• Phonics – developing accurate pronunciation and an understanding of sound patterns in French.
• Vocabulary – building a rich and expanding bank of words and phrases that can be recalled and applied confidently.
• Grammar – understanding how language works, including sentence structure and key grammatical features, to support effective communication.

At Darton Primary School, French learning is thoughtfully planned to make meaningful links with other curriculum subjects wherever possible. Topics are carefully chosen to provide relevant and engaging contexts for learning, helping pupils make connections across the curriculum and deepen their understanding. This purposeful approach enables children to develop their language skills progressively, communicate with increasing confidence and gain a greater appreciation of the cultures and communities of the French-speaking world.

Through our French curriculum, we aim to develop enthusiastic, confident linguists who are curious about the world, respectful of different cultures and equipped with the foundations to continue their language-learning journey in the future.

 

French is taught as a discrete subject at Darton Primary School, providing children with the opportunity to develop confidence, curiosity and enjoyment in learning a new language. Our French curriculum is designed to inspire pupils, raise aspirations and broaden their understanding of the world, whilst developing the communication skills needed for life in the 21st century. Through engaging and purposeful learning experiences, children build their knowledge of the French language and culture, fostering respect, empathy and appreciation for different ways of life.

The curriculum is rich, ambitious and inclusive, offering all pupils the opportunity to succeed. It is carefully planned on a two-year rolling cycle, ensuring full curriculum coverage, progression of knowledge and skills, and meaningful learning experiences for mixed-age classes. This approach enables children to revisit and build upon prior learning, strengthening long-term retention and confidence in using the language.

Lessons are underpinned by the principles of the Accelerated Learning Cycle, creating a supportive yet challenging environment where children are encouraged to participate actively, learn through a range of multi-sensory approaches and demonstrate their understanding in different ways. Through speaking, listening, reading and writing activities, alongside songs, stories, games and cultural experiences, pupils develop confidence in communicating in French whilst deepening their understanding of language and culture.

At the heart of our French curriculum is the belief that learning another language opens doors to new opportunities and experiences. By exploring a wide range of engaging topics, often linked to other areas of the curriculum, children develop not only their linguistic knowledge but also their personal, social and cultural awareness. Through our carefully sequenced two-year cycle, pupils continually build upon their phonics, vocabulary and grammatical understanding, preparing them to become confident, respectful and globally minded citizens.

Assessment for learning is an integral part of every French lesson. Formative assessment takes place continuously through questioning, observations, discussion and regular opportunities for pupils to practise and apply their learning. This enables teachers to identify misconceptions, adapt teaching and provide appropriate support or challenge, ensuring that all children make progress from their starting points.

In addition to ongoing formative assessment, summative assessment is used to monitor attainment and progress across the French curriculum. Teachers regularly review pupils’ knowledge and skills against the progression documents and two-year curriculum map, enabling them to identify strengths, address gaps in learning and plan effective next steps. This ensures that knowledge is taught sequentially and revisited regularly, allowing children to confidently recall and apply previously learned vocabulary, phonics and grammatical structures.

By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils leave Darton Primary School with a secure foundation in French, the confidence to communicate using familiar language, an understanding of key aspects of French culture and a positive attitude towards language learning. They are equipped with the skills, knowledge and enthusiasm to continue their language-learning journey successfully at secondary school and beyond, truly embodying our vision to Aim High, Work Hard, Achieve Together.