Modern Foreign Languages

INTENT

At St Edward’s, learning a modern foreign language like French has a clear and exciting purpose: fluency in a modern foreign language other than a child’s own enables them to communicate with others, as it is a key life skill which will open up many life opportunities. It raises awareness of the multilingual and multicultural world and introduces an international dimension to pupils’ learning, giving them an insight into their own culture and those of others. As pupils begin to understand and appreciate different cultures, people and communities, they too begin to think of themselves as citizens of the world as well as of the United Kingdom.

IMPLEMENTATION

CUSP French is the French curriculum used at St Edward’s – is sequenced and progressive, mapped against the National Curriculum. CUSP French has been purposefully built around the principles of evidence-led practice. This is to ensure that there is a focus on high-quality development of children as linguists. Core areas of study are revisited throughout the curriculum. Each unit of study focuses on phonics, grammatical structures, reading, writing, oracy and vocabulary

Our Curriculum has been designed to serve young linguists in the modern world. Key areas of focus have been deliberately selected to ensure that pupils are equipped with knowledge and language that will serve them in engaging with important and useful topics such as the environment, wellbeing and travel. The curriculum focuses not just on vocabulary acquisition but also on the building blocks of learning a new language.

To further enhance the experience and understanding of the people, culture and history of France, we will be celebrating a key event or French festival every year i.e. Tour de France.

IMPACT

Our French curriculum has been developed in a way that gives all learners the knowledge, skills and cultural capital they need to succeed as they progress through their education. By the end of Year 6, we aim for every pupil to have a good working knowledge of the French language, as well as of French culture, geography and history.

Our French Curriculum helps achieve our vision of Life in all its fullness by

Mind – enabling our pupils to grow in their knowledge, becoming increasingly competent and confident French linguists.
Heart – helping our pupils to grow in kindness and in their respect of people who are different from themselves; helping them to fulfil the Biblical commandment to “love [their] neighbour” by learning their ‘neighbour’s’ language; helping them to grow in their intercultural understanding
Spirit- Our children will develop a sense of awe and wonder as they are taught to appreciate and be part of the traditions of the multilingual and the multicultural world they live in.