Modern Foreign Languages

At Christ Church School, all children learn French as part of our commitment to learning a different language. Our intent is to provide every child with the opportunity to develop strong language skills—listening, speaking, reading, writing, phonics, grammar, memorisation of vocabulary and use of dictionaries—while building an appreciation of the rich cultures, traditions and diversity of France and French-speaking countries. Cultural experiences are central to our vision; for example, in January we celebrate Epiphany by sharing a traditional French pie, la Galette des Rois, with all pupils across the school.

Our implementation begins in Reception and continues through to Year 6, with teaching carefully matched to children’s developmental stages. In Reception to Year 2, French is taught through songs, stories and games to ensure learning is joyful, active and memorable. Pupils enjoy French nursery rhymes and use actions to retell familiar stories such as La Petite Poule Rousse (The Little Red Hen). We believe strongly in cross-curricular learning, and teachers purposefully make links with DT (cooking), PE, Maths, Geography, Art and Music. Lessons delivered through French allow children to apply their language in meaningful contexts and these sessions are always enthusiastically received. Our KS2 French choir is also extremely popular and gives pupils the chance to practise pronunciation and performance skills in an authentic and enjoyable way.

In KS2, we follow the Rachel Hawkes scheme of work, which places pronunciation, memory, pattern-spotting, sentence building, autonomy, performance and creativity at the heart of language learning. These resources enable children to develop their French in a range of exciting contexts; for example, Year 3 pupils explore the colourful work of Matisse while Year 6 pupils study a film set in Senegal, learning key vocabulary and gaining insight into the wider French-speaking world.

Across the school, teachers use authentic poems, artworks, stories and films to bring French to life. By delivering fun, engaging and culturally rich lessons, we ensure that children not only learn the mechanics of the language but also experience the joy and purpose of communicating in a new way.

The impact of our French curriculum is seen in pupils’ enthusiasm, confidence and willingness to use the language in and beyond the classroom. Children leave Christ Church School with a secure foundation in French, an understanding of linguistic structures, and an appreciation of the wider world. They recognise the value of being able to communicate in another language and are well-prepared for further language learning in Key Stage 3 and beyond.