Foreign Languages

At St Patrick’s, we believe that learning a language helps children grow in confidence, curiosity and understanding of the wider world. We celebrate every child as unique and encourage them to develop their talents with Christ at the centre of all we do.

Why do we teach French?

We teach French to help children:

• Build confidence in speaking and understanding another language
• Develop respect and awareness of other cultures
• Gain important skills such as listening, memory, problem-solving and resilience
• Prepare for the future in an increasingly global world

French has been chosen because it is widely spoken around the world and offers exciting opportunities for travel, learning and future careers.

How do children learn?

French is mainly taught in Key Stage 2, with Key Stage 1 beginning t experience in summer term to give children an earlier start.

Lessons are engaging and practical, with children learning through:

• Games and activities to practise vocabulary
• Songs and rhymes to help pronunciation and memory
• Reading and simple writing tasks
• Encouragement and praise to build confidence

Children develop skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing as they progress.

What will children achieve?

By the end of primary school, children will:

• Be able to take part in simple conversations
• Understand and read basic French texts
• Write short sentences using familiar vocabulary
• Use basic grammar and pronunciation with increasing confidence

Inclusion for all

We ensure that every child can take part and succeed in learning French, whatever their ability. Lessons are adapted to meet individual needs and provide all pupils with a broad and balanced education.