MFL - French

“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages…” — Acts 2:4

At St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, we believe learning a language enriches education, broadens horizons, and deepens understanding of God’s diverse world. Through French, pupils develop communication skills, cultural awareness, and a sense of belonging to a global community.

Our curriculum is taught using the Grammarsaurus French scheme of work, ensuring clear progression across Years 3–6 so that pupils know more, remember more, and do more as they move through the school.

Our Catholic Ethos

We see language as a gift from God that enables connection, empathy, and unity. Through French, pupils learn to respect others and appreciate the shared humanity that unites us all.

Substantive Threads: Primary Languages

Through the Grammarsaurus curriculum, pupils progressively develop:

Phonics & Pronunciation – recognising sounds and speaking with increasing accuracy
Vocabulary – learning and applying words, phrases, and sentences
Communication – listening, responding, asking and answering questions
Reading & Writing – understanding and producing simple texts
Grammar – building sentences using key structures (e.g. gender, agreement, verbs)
Cultural Understanding – exploring French traditions, festivals, and daily life

Disciplinary Threads: Primary Languages

Pupils also learn how to learn a language through:

Language Learning Skills – repetition, retrieval, and pattern recognition to support memory
Communication Strategies – developing confidence through speaking, modelling, and collaboration
Global Citizenship – understanding the value of languages in connecting people and cultures

Implementation

French is taught through engaging, interactive lessons that promote confidence and enjoyment. Using Grammarsaurus, teaching includes:

A strong focus on speaking and listening in lower KS2
Increasing opportunities for reading and writing in upper KS2
Songs, games, and role-play to embed learning
Structured progression and regular retrieval practice
Support and challenge to ensure all pupils succeed

Impact

By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils will:

Enjoy learning French and show curiosity about languages
Communicate using simple spoken and written sentences
Recall key vocabulary and grammatical structures
Demonstrate progression across speaking, listening, reading, and writing
Show respect for cultural diversity as part of God’s creation
Be well prepared for language learning at Key Stage 3