Modern Foreign Languages at Kirk Ella St Andrew’s

At Kirk Ella St Andrew’s, the intention of our MFL curriculum is to develop an interest and thirst for learning languages. We aim to introduce the learning of ‘French’ and the understanding of its culture in enjoyable and stimulating ways. We hope to embed the essential skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing (including grammar). We aim to build on the children’s ‘cultural capital’ so that they are aware of similarities and differences between cultures. Overall, we hope to lay the foundations for future language learning.

Our MFL curriculum has been designed to progressively develop skills in French. We use the i-languages programme to deliver our French lessons. We chose this after both using and looking at other schemes available along with consultation with our local catchment Secondary School, which is a language specialist school. We have built up a good relationship with them which is both mutually beneficial and one which offers us extra support and valuable knowledge.

All KS2 children are taught French in a weekly discreet lesson by a specialist in French. This is something which has changed from previous years, where French was either taught in blocks and in some year groups very rarely. By teaching French each week, the children are much more likely to retain the key vocabulary taught.

KS1 children are also introduced o French through our ‘KidsLingo’ club, displays around the school and some basic classroom commands, greetings for the register etc.

Teachers assess French throughout lessons using ‘Assessment for Learning in order to help plan future lessons. Assessment is also built into the i-languages programme and the children will complete tests in all of the areas (speaking, listening, reading and writing) termly. By the end of Year 6, the children will have a sound foundation on which to build on in their Secondary school journey.

Every child has a copy of what they are expected to learn/know in the year group stuck into the front of their French books. That way both staff and children are clear on what their language journey should look like.

Samples of work will be collected for each of the areas and a portfolio put together to see the progression throughout KS2.