At St David’s, we believe that children should have a thorough education in a modern foreign language from a young age. A specialist French teacher delivers lessons to all pupils from Reception to Form 6.

Children begin developing their French speaking skills in Reception through lessons that incorporate songs, games and rhymes, making learning both enjoyable and interactive. As pupils progress through the infant classes, their language skills continue to develop and they engage in role-play and interactive activities. Pupils also begin to explore aspects of French culture.

In the Junior year groups, pupils move on to a weekly one-hour lesson, where they begin to cover material aligned with the Year 7 national curriculum. This includes a balance of the four key skills — listening, speaking, reading and writing — alongside the introduction of basic grammar. Lessons often include videos, songs, puzzles, competitions and performance opportunities.

Pupils also benefit from opportunities beyond the classroom each year, including watching a performance by a visiting French theatre company in Key Stage 2, taking part in a French performance as part of the ‘Love Languages’ competition at a nearby secondary school in Form 5, and participating in the Linguistics Olympiad held at Royal Russell in Upper Key Stage 2.

French at St David’s goes significantly beyond the Key Stage 2 National Curriculum, laying a strong foundation for pupils who continue their language studies at secondary school and giving them a flying start in Year 7. In preparation for this transition, Form 6 pupils also take part in a term of Spanish ‘taster’ lessons during the Summer term, supporting informed language choices and broadening their linguistic experience. As a result, pupils move on to Key Stage 3 with confidence across the four key skills, together with a secure understanding of how to approach language learning.