At St. James CE Primary School, our French curriculum is rooted in our Christian vision of “Life in all its Fullness” (John 10:10). We believe that learning a modern foreign language broadens horizons, deepens understanding of different cultures and helps children to become confident, respectful and curious global citizens. Through engaging and meaningful learning experiences, we aim to inspire a love of languages and develop the confidence to communicate with others.
Our curriculum is underpinned by the principles of Teach, Nurture and Celebrate.
We Teach knowledge and skills through the carefully sequenced CUSP French curriculum. Pupils progressively develop their understanding of spoken and written French, building vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar and language structures over time. Through listening, speaking, reading and writing activities, children gain the knowledge and confidence to communicate in French while developing a greater understanding of how languages work. Learning is carefully planned to ensure knowledge is revisited and built upon, enabling pupils to make strong progress throughout Key Stage 2.
We Nurture a sense of love and hope in ourselves and others by fostering respect, empathy and appreciation for different cultures and communities. Learning French encourages children to develop an outward-looking perspective, recognising and valuing diversity both within Europe and across the wider world. Through language learning, pupils are encouraged to make connections, understand different ways of life and develop the confidence to engage positively with others.
We Celebrate achievements and enquiring minds by providing opportunities for children to explore the rich cultures of French-speaking communities around the world. In addition to our CUSP curriculum, pupils participate in French enrichment days, where they immerse themselves in specific aspects of French and Francophone culture, such as art, music, food, traditions and the countries across the world where French is spoken. These experiences encourage curiosity, deepen cultural understanding and bring language learning to life.
Through our French curriculum, pupils leave St. James with a strong foundation in language learning, a curiosity about the wider world and an appreciation of the diversity of French-speaking cultures. By developing knowledge, confidence and cultural awareness, we equip children to flourish as lifelong learners and global citizens, living life in all its fullness.