Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) at Upwell Academy
National Curriculum Aims
At Upwell Academy, our French curriculum enables pupils to meet the Key Stage 2 National Curriculum expectations by developing their ability to:
- Listen attentively and respond appropriately to spoken language.
- Explore the sounds, patterns and meanings of language through songs, rhymes and spoken activities.
- Engage in conversations, ask and answer questions, express opinions and seek clarification.
- Communicate confidently using familiar vocabulary, phrases and sentence structures.
- Develop accurate pronunciation and intonation.
- Present ideas and information orally to different audiences.
- Read and understand words, phrases and simple texts.
- Appreciate stories, songs, poems and cultural texts in French.
- Build a broad and increasingly sophisticated vocabulary.
- Write from memory and adapt language to communicate their own ideas.
- Describe people, places, objects and actions both orally and in writing.
- Understand and apply key grammatical concepts while recognising similarities and differences between French and English.
Intent
At Upwell Academy, we believe that learning a foreign language provides an important opportunity for pupils to broaden their horizons and develop a greater understanding of the wider world. Our French curriculum is designed to inspire curiosity, foster cultural awareness and equip pupils with the confidence to communicate in another language.
French is taught through a carefully sequenced curriculum that enables pupils to progressively develop their knowledge, skills and understanding over time. The curriculum provides regular opportunities for pupils to listen, speak, read and write in French, allowing them to build secure foundations before applying their learning in increasingly complex contexts.
In Lower Key Stage 2, pupils develop essential vocabulary and language structures with a strong focus on speaking and listening. As they move into Upper Key Stage 2, pupils build upon these foundations by developing greater fluency in reading and writing, applying grammatical knowledge and communicating with increasing independence and accuracy.
Our curriculum exposes pupils to authentic French language and culture through regular opportunities to hear native speakers, explore traditions and customs, and develop an appreciation of life in French-speaking countries. We aim to nurture confident, reflective and enthusiastic language learners who are well-prepared for further language study at Key Stage 3 and beyond.
Implementation
French is taught through a progressive programme of study that builds systematically upon prior learning. Lessons are carefully sequenced to ensure that previously taught vocabulary, grammar and language structures are regularly revisited and embedded through retrieval practice and purposeful application.
Each unit introduces new knowledge within a meaningful context, enabling pupils to make connections between new learning and what they already know. Key vocabulary and grammatical concepts are explicitly taught and revisited throughout the curriculum to support long-term retention and fluency.
Pupils develop their skills across the four key areas of language learning:
- Listening attentively and responding to spoken French.
- Speaking confidently using appropriate vocabulary and sentence structures.
- Reading and understanding words, phrases and longer texts.
- Writing accurately for a range of purposes.
High-quality resources, including audio materials from native French speakers, support accurate pronunciation and authentic language development. Cultural understanding is woven throughout the curriculum, enabling pupils to gain insight into the traditions, geography and everyday life of French-speaking communities.
Teachers are supported through detailed planning, clear subject knowledge guidance and carefully structured lessons that ensure consistency and progression across the school.
Impact
The impact of our French curriculum is that pupils develop the knowledge, skills and confidence required to communicate effectively in French and to appreciate the value of learning another language.
By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils are able to:
- Understand and respond to spoken and written French with increasing confidence.
- Communicate their ideas using appropriate vocabulary and grammatical structures.
- Read and understand a range of age-appropriate French texts.
- Write phrases and sentences independently for a variety of purposes.
- Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of French language and culture.
- Apply previously taught knowledge to new contexts and situations.
Pupils' progress is assessed through ongoing formative assessment, retrieval activities, pupil discussion, observation of speaking and listening skills, and end-of-unit assessments. Outcomes are used to identify strengths, address misconceptions and inform next steps in learning.
As a result, pupils leave Upwell Academy as confident, curious and resilient learners with a strong foundation in French, an appreciation of other cultures and the skills needed for successful language learning in the future.