The study of French gives students an excellent intercultural understanding, develops literacy, builds confidence in all forms of communication as well as equipping the students with the knowledge of a very widely spoken foreign language which will serve them in their future lives and careers.

Students in Key Stage 3 will follow an intense programme of language learning from September 2024, with frequent lessons throughout the two week timetable to allow for greater exposure to the language and opportunities for retrieval and practise. This is widely accepted as the best approach to language learning, little and often. We will cover all of the SSC (sound-symbol correspondences) of the French language in year 7, allowing the students to build confidence in their pronunciation and demystifying the language. We will also focus on broadening vocabulary knowledge as well as laying the foundations of grammatical understanding of key concepts such as tenses and time frames, adjectival agreement, word order and pronouns. Students will begin to develop an understanding and awareness of culture in both France and the francophone world, which will continue to develop throughout their time learning French at MGS.

In Year 10, students begin the GCSE course. The aim is to teach the course across year 10, then using year 11 to prepare thoroughly for speaking exams as well as building on prior learning to both consolidate knowledge and develop more advanced language skills.

Students who continue studying to A level will have the opportunity to learn about politics, history, geography as well as analysing a work of literature and a film in depth. They will learn to write extended essays in French, preparing them for language study at university.

The document linked below outlines how knowledge and skills are sequenced and developed throughout each year of the curriculum.