Intent   

At Bel Royal, the intent of teaching French is to develop pupils’ confidence, curiosity and enjoyment in learning a foreign language, while building a strong foundation in vocabulary, grammar and phonics. We aim for pupils to leave Year 6 able to communicate simple ideas clearly, accurately and with increasing independence. 

Our Intentions 

• To develop listening, speaking, reading and writing skills progressively across KS2. 
• To explicitly teach French phonics, enabling pupils to decode and pronounce unfamiliar language accurately. 
• To build cumulative knowledge, where new learning links clearly to prior learning. 
• To ensure pupils can use language purposefully through role play, songs, stories and real-life contexts. 
• To foster a positive attitude towards languages and other cultures. 

Curriculum Design 

• Bel Royal’s French curriculum encompasses the three pillars to learning a Modern Foreign Language: vocabulary, grammar and phonics. 
• The curriculum is carefully sequenced from Year 3 to Year 6  
• Key language structures (e.g. j’ai / je n’ai pas, opinions, connectives) are revisited and extended. 
• High-quality French stories and songs are used to support comprehension, pronunciation and cultural understanding. 
• Language learning is seen as the interplay of vocabulary, grammar and phonics, rather than isolated strands. 

Implementation   

Lesson Structure (Consistent Across KS2) 

Each lesson follows a clear and familiar structure: 

1. Oral Warm-Up / Role Play 

• Greetings, conversation rapides, recall of previous learning 
• Builds confidence and automaticity 

2. Explicit Teaching 

• Introduction of new vocabulary, grammar or phonics 
• Modelled pronunciation and choral repetition 

3. Guided & Independent Practice 

• Written, spoken or practical tasks 
• Scaffolded to support all learners 

4. Assessment for Learning 

• Games such as Kahoot used to assess understanding in an engaging way. 

Teaching Approaches 

• Phonics-first approach: French sounds are explicitly taught and revisited (e.g. vowels, nasal sounds, digraphs). 
• High-frequency structures are prioritised, so pupils can reuse language in different contexts. 
• Role play and performance are central, encouraging purposeful communication. 
• Repetition with variation ensures secure retention. 
• Cross-curricular links (geography, PSHE, literacy) enhance meaning and engagement. 

Adaptations: 

To ensure accessibility for all pupils, the following adaptations are in place: 

• Pre-teaching of key vocabulary using visuals and gestures 
• Reduced language load (fewer words, simplified sentences) 
• Sentence stems and speaking frames 
• Choral repetition and partner rehearsal before independent speaking 
• Matching, sorting and multiple-choice activities 
• Adult support during role play and written tasks 
• Use of songs, actions and rhythm to support memory 

These adaptations ensure pupils can access the same learning intention while reducing cognitive load. 

Challenge: 

High-achieving pupils are challenged through: 

• Extending sentences using connectives (et, mais, parce que, aussi) 
• Justifying opinions with reasons 
• Creating their own role plays or dialogues 
• Writing short paragraphs using familiar language 
• Manipulating language (changing tense, person or gender where appropriate) 
• Acting as language models or peer supporters 
• Applying language to unfamiliar contexts 

This ensures high attainers deepen understanding rather than simply completing more work. 

Impact   

By the end of KS2, pupils: 

• Can understand and respond to spoken French with confidence 
• Pronounce language accurately using phonics knowledge 
• Use familiar structures independently in speech and writing 
• Show enjoyment and confidence in speaking French 
• Are well-prepared for KS3 language learning 

Assessment and Evidence 

• Ongoing formative assessment through questioning, role play and Kahoot quizzes 
• End-of-unit recap and revision sessions 
• Performance opportunities (e.g. conversation rapides, assemblies, French Eisteddfod) 
• Work in books shows progression in vocabulary, sentence structure and accuracy 

Pupil Voice and Engagement 

• Pupils are confident to speak aloud and perform in French 
• Lessons are inclusive, engaging and active 
• Pupils can talk about how French phonics help them pronounce new words 

Overall Impact: The French curriculum enables pupils of all abilities to succeed, builds strong foundations in phonics and language structures, and creates confident, enthusiastic language learners.  

 

In Years 5 and 6, pupils are offered the chance to perform in the French Eisteddfod, with notable success in both the song and poem recital classes over the years.