Through their study of French, students begin to grow not only linguistically but also culturally, emotionally, and socially. Learning about life in French-speaking countries helps pupils to develop greater global awareness, empathy, and curiosity.
"The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ instructed his companions to learn languages to communicate effectively and spread the message of Islam."
French is a global language of diplomacy, culture, and communication. The department aims to equip students with strong skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, enabling them to thrive in academic contexts, professional environments, and international settings. In addition, the department fosters intercultural awareness and critical thinking, encouraging students to engage with diverse perspectives and deepen their understanding of the Francophone world.
In 2024, 75% of students achieved at least grades 9-7 in French.
At Key Stage 3 students build a strong foundation in the four core language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
Our aim is to develop confident and capable language learners who are able to communicate effectively and enjoy discovering the richness of the French language and the diversity of Francophone cultures.
Pupils will learn how to express themselves clearly and accurately in spoken and written French, covering everyday topics such as family, school life, hobbies, food, travel, and personal interests. They are also encouraged to develop their listening and reading skills through exposure to a variety of materials, including dialogues, songs, short texts, poems, and authentic resources.
Students are taught to:
Key Stage 3 provides the essential groundwork for success at GCSE, while fostering a love for languages and an appreciation for communication across cultures.
Grammar focus: Present tense verbs (regular & irregular), adjective agreement, question formation, opinions, and basic sentence building.
Grammar focus: Perfect tense, reflexive verbs, possessive adjectives, modal verbs, and consolidation of the present tense.
In Year 9, students begin to prepare for the GCSE, with an increased focus on structured writing, listening, reading comprehension, and spontaneous conversation.
The course continues to develop proficiency across all four language skills. Topics studied include social issues, global and environmental concerns, education and future plans, as well as Francophone culture and customs. Students are also encouraged to participate in language competitions and cultural events. In previous years, some students have benefited from a trip to Paris and they participated in a national French translation competition.
The French GCSE exam consists of four components: listening, speaking, reading, and writing, each worth 25% of the final grade. These exams are designed to assess your ability to use French in real-life situations. Paper code : 1FR1, higher
Listening: (2 tasks) listening comprehension (questions and answers in English), dictation (French into French) - 35 minutes (plus 5 minutes of reading time).
Speaking: (3 tasks) read aloud and answer 2 questions, role play, picture task with conversation
Reading: (2 tasks) reading comprehension (questions and answers in English), translation from French to English – 45 minutes.
Writing : (3 tasks) informal writing (80-90 words), formal writing (130-150 words), translation (English into French) – 1 hour.
Students will study the following themes and topics, which are at the core of the Edexcel French GCSE curriculum:
Themes : My Personal World, Media and Technology, Studying and my Future, , Lifestyle and Wellbeing, Travel and Tourism, My Neighbourhood,
Topics: family, friends, relationships, equality, physical and mental well-being, food and drink, sports, places in town, shopping, transport, the natural world, environmental issues, social media and gaming, future opportunities, school, music, film, accommodation, tourism
Through ActiveHub Pearson, students have access to a wealth of resources that will support their GCSE preparation. The platform’s interactive features, including grammar and vocabulary exercises, video clips, and audio activities, are designed to help students build confidence and improve their skills. Teachers will guide students through the curriculum, using ActiveHub as a supplementary tool to ensure they are on track to succeed.
We also provide a range of extracurricular activities and opportunities for learning enrichment. These include:
