Welcome to the French Department
Miss S Ekiko, Head of French Mrs A Gritti-Pearce, Teacher of French and German Mrs C Peck, Deputy Head Miss H George, Teacher of French and Spanish

As a department we concur completely with the stated aims of the Edexcel GCSE syllabus and see them as applicable not only to KS4 but also to KS3 and to foreign language teaching generally. Therefore we aim to:

  • Develop the ability to understand and use the chosen foreign language effectively for the purposes of practical communication.
  • Develop the ability to use the chosen language both imaginatively and creatively and to understand the language used both imaginatively and creatively.
  • Develop an understanding of the grammar of the chosen language.
  • Offer insights into the culture and civilisation of the countries and communities that speak the chosen language.
  • Encourage positive attitudes to foreign language learning and to speakers of foreign languages and a positive approach to other cultures and civilisations.
  • Develop students’ understanding of themselves and their own culture.
  • Provide enjoyment and intellectual stimulation.
  • Form a sound base of skills, language and attitude required for further study, work and leisure.
  • Promote skills, which have a wider application such as information technology, and learning skills (eg analysis, memorising, drawing inference).

KEY STAGE 3

Year 7 - Two forms entering the school start the study of French. They have 9 single lessons per fortnight (2/3 of which are timetabled in the language lab). Pupils follow the Metro 1 course book and they receive a textbook which they keep until the end of the year and a workbook.

Year 8 - French is continued as a first language in Year 8, but one 1st linguist German and 1st linguist Spanish group take on French as a second language. 1st linguists have 8 single lessons per fortnight and follow the Metro 2 course book. 2nd linguists have 6 single lessons per fortnight and follow the Metro 1 course book.

Year 9 - The two 1st linguist groups continue with French and their second language in Year 9. Both languages are taught in 6 single lessons per fortnight. At the end of year, pupils take Foundation GCSE papers and are given a National Curriculum level. 1st linguists follow the Metro 3/ Expo 3 course book. 2nd linguists follow the Metro 2 course book.

KEY STAGE 4

In Year 10 & 11 most 1st linguists will take French as one of their GCSE options. The course is taught using Expo 4 in Year 10 and Year 11 in 4 double periods per fortnight. At the end of Year 10, pupils take an exam using GCSE past papers and mock examinations follow in November/ December of Year 11.

The study of at least one foreign language is, therefore, undertaken by all pupils, and all pupils are entered for the Edexcel GCSE examination in at least one language. We believe this to be an essential part of our students’ curriculum and it is our policy not to disapply students, unless exceptional circumstances arise.

SIXTH FORM

At 16+ the school offers AS and A2 examinations provided by Edexcel in French. Some students may decide not to continue with the language into Year 13, but obviously we would hope to encourage them to carry on and do the A2 examination.

AS students follow the Elan 1 course book, whilst A2 students use Elan 2 and study L’Etranger, Les Justes and France under German Occupation.