French
Aim: That pupils can connect with people around the world
At Garras, we have designed an ambitious and connected curriculum that enables pupils to build secure knowledge, develop skills, and make meaningful links across subjects. Learning is sequenced through the framework of ‘here, there and then, now, next’, helping pupils understand the present, appreciate the cultural roots of language, and develop the skills to engage confidently in a global future.
In French, pupils communicate effectively here and now, drawing on the language’s cultural roots from then, and developing skills to engage with people and cultures next. Through this, pupils are encouraged to become caring communicators who value diversity and appreciate different perspectives around the world.
At Garras, we follow the Kapow Primary French scheme of work, structured around six key strands:
- Speaking and pronunciation
- Listening
- Reading and writing
- Grammar
- Intercultural understanding
- Language detective skills
The scheme provides balanced opportunities to communicate in both spoken and written French. In the early stages (Year 3), pupils focus on developing oral skills, before progressively incorporating written French in Year 4 and beyond. The spiral curriculum revisits key skills and vocabulary with increasing complexity, allowing pupils to build on prior learning and make meaningful connections across the curriculum.
We want pupils to develop the confidence to communicate in French for practical purposes, using both spoken and written forms. Our curriculum encourages curious learners to explore language creatively, to ask questions about culture and communication, and to make connections between French and their own experiences. It provides a foundation for lifelong language learning, strengthening understanding of English grammar, supporting future study, and opening opportunities to study and work internationally.
We also celebrate and embed our local Cornish heritage through the Go Cornish programme. Pupils develop their own sense of Cornish identity and engage with the Cornish language through greetings, songs, rhymes, counting, and everyday classroom phrases. This supports children to become courageous learners who are willing to explore new languages, try new things, and participate in cultural experiences with confidence.
Through our French curriculum, pupils become caring, curious, and courageous communicators, equipped to engage respectfully with people and cultures from around the world, and confident to use their language skills to connect locally, nationally, and globally.