Languages at Anthony Bek Primary School 

“One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.” ― Frank Smith

Intent

 Anthony Bek Community Primary and Nursery School aims to offer a relevant, broad, vibrant and ambitious French, foreign languages curriculum that will inspire and excite our pupils. The Language Angels scheme of work and resources are used to ensure a wide variety of topics are covered through a spiral approach. The four key language learning skills are woven into our languages curriculum: speaking, listening, reading and writing. These exciting topics will be taught alongside the three pillars of language learning: phonics, vocabulary and grammar. All necessary grammar will be covered across KS2. This eclectic approach intends to support our pupils to develop a genuine interest and positive curiosity about foreign languages and find them enjoyable. Learning a second language will also offer pupils the opportunity to explore relationships between language and identity and develop a deeper understanding of other cultures and the world around them. Ultimately, we intend to develop lifelong, language learners.  

Implementation

All KS2 classes will have access to a high-quality foreign language’s curriculum using the Language Angels scheme of work and resources. This will progressively develop pupil skills in French through regularly taught and well-planned lessons on a weekly basis. Year groups will follow six, carefully selected, modules per academic year.  Children will progressively acquire, use and apply a growing bank of vocabulary, language skills and grammatical knowledge organised around age-appropriate topics and themes - building blocks of language into more complex, fluent and authentic language. The children will have regular opportunities for reading, listening, writing and speaking in each unit taught. Units progress from Y3-6 by the progressive teaching of French phonics and with Early Language Units (focusing of vocabulary); Intermediate Language units which are suitable for pupils with embedded basic knowledge; and Progressive Language Units which are the most challenging and suitable for pupils with a good understanding of the basics of the language they are learning. Children will be taught how to listen and read longer pieces of text gradually in the foreign language and they will have ample opportunities to develop their language with and without scaffolds, frames and varying levels of support. Additionally, our children will be exposed to specific culture lessons which will give them a small insight and appreciation of French culture.

Pupils with SEND: We believe that all pupils should be afforded the opportunity to learn a modern foreign language. Our approach offers a multisensory approach to learning, using a wide range of audio and visual approaches that support working memory and create a ‘like’ and a ‘want’ to learn foreign languages. Lessons are suitable for pupils of all abilities. Independent work is differentiated depending on the needs of the children, to ensure all children can feel success in their learning. There are also extra interactive games and karaoke videos available to further consolidate learning, which teachers use when appropriate. Repetition and practice are at the core of our curriculum, which supports all learners.

Disadvantaged Pupils: At Anthony Bek School, we believe that our curriculum and learning experiences must be accessed by all pupils regardless of any barriers that they may face. To ensure that barriers of disadvantage are removed, all pupils receive quality-first teaching in the classroom along with differentiated work or support needed to meet individual, additional needs. We aim to raise aspirations and improve the life chances of our most vulnerable and disadvantaged pupils by providing them with an effective language curriculum that gives them the opportunity to thrive alongside their peers, both now and in the future. When language teaching and learning is monitored, the learning and experiences of disadvantaged pupils will always form an important part of this monitoring.

Impact

Several strategies are used to measure the impact of our French Curriculum:

• In line with our teaching progression, learning is reviewed on a regular basis so that teachers can check whether learning has been retained. This includes children responding orally and in writing to assess their understanding and knowledge retention.

• Formative assessments are ongoing throughout each French Unit to inform teachers’ future planning and differentiation.

• Summative assessments are completed at the end of each unit using low stake quizzes. These ‘quizzes’ are used alongside a range of other assessment resources to help teachers assess whether children are at age related expectations in the units of learning they have covered in French.

As a result of these assessment tools, pupil’s misconceptions or gaps in subject knowledge and skills are continually addressed and additional teaching and support is provided where needed.

We will see the impact of our French Curriculum in different ways:

• Through pupil voice, children will be able to talk about the skills and knowledge they have acquired. Pupil voice will show that pupils are confident and able to talk about what they have learned in French using subject specific vocabulary.

• Children will be engaged in our lessons and want to find out more. Pupils will enjoy French and will recall their learning over time.

• Pupils’ work will demonstrate that French is taught at an age-appropriate standard across each year group with opportunities planned for all pupils.

• Work will be of good quality and demonstrate pupils are acquiring relevant cultural and grammatical knowledge, language skills and vocabulary.
• Pupils will continuously build on their previous knowledge as they progress in their foreign language learning journey through the primary phase. They will be able to talk confidently about their language learning journey and retrieve previous language which will be recycled, revised, recalled and consolidated whenever possible and appropriate.