From September 2026, French became the language taught throughout Key Stage 2, replacing Spanish. During this transition year, teaching is carefully adapted so that all pupils develop the essential French phonics, vocabulary and grammar needed to access their age-appropriate learning. Previous experience of learning Spanish remains valuable, as children continue to apply their language-learning skills, confidence and cultural understanding.
Believe
At Ridgeway Farm CE Academy, we believe that learning another language connects people, cultures and communities and reflects the diversity and beauty of God’s world. Learning French enables children to communicate with others, explore different ways of life and grow in curiosity, empathy, respect and global awareness.
Rooted in our Christian vision, our French curriculum helps children to recognise themselves as part of a wider global family. It develops confidence, celebrates difference and prepares pupils to live thoughtfully and respectfully in a diverse and interconnected world.
We believe learning French should:
- Inspire curiosity about languages and the wider world
- Develop confidence in communicating with others
- Foster respect for different cultures and communities
- Build empathy, understanding and a sense of belonging
- Encourage children to take risks and learn from mistakes
- Develop strong foundations for future language learning
- Promote global citizenship
- Open opportunities for future learning and life
Our vision is to develop curious, confident and compassionate language learners who value diversity, respect others and believe in their ability to communicate in another language.
Learn
French is taught throughout Key Stage 2 using the Kapow Primary French scheme. This provides a carefully sequenced, progressive and engaging curriculum that meets the requirements of the National Curriculum.
The Kapow Primary curriculum develops pupils’ knowledge and skills through five interconnected strands:
- Phonics
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
- Language comprehension through listening and reading
- Language production through speaking and writing
Children build their knowledge progressively from Year 3 to Year 6. New vocabulary, grammatical structures and French phonemes are introduced systematically and revisited regularly so that pupils can remember and apply their learning with increasing confidence and independence.
Learning is brought to life through:
- Songs, rhymes, stories and games
- Paired and group conversations
- Listening and responding to spoken French
- Reading and understanding words, phrases and short texts
- Speaking with increasing confidence, accuracy and fluency
- Developing accurate pronunciation and intonation
- Writing words, phrases and sentences for different purposes
- Exploring patterns and structures within the French language
- Comparing French with English and other languages
- Discovering French-speaking countries, cultures and traditions
Lessons provide frequent opportunities for children to retrieve and apply previous learning. Teachers use modelling, repetition, visual support and practical activities to ensure that French is enjoyable, inclusive and accessible to all pupils.
Assessment is woven throughout the curriculum. Teachers check pupils’ understanding through questioning, observation, conversation, written work and Kapow’s assessment opportunities. This enables teachers to identify what children know, address misconceptions and plan appropriate support or challenge.
Grow
Through our French curriculum, children grow into enthusiastic, resilient and increasingly independent language learners who:
- Enjoy learning and using French
- Listen carefully and respond with understanding
- Speak with increasing confidence and accuracy
- Read and understand familiar French vocabulary and phrases
- Write for a range of simple purposes
- Apply their knowledge of phonics, vocabulary and grammar
- Recognise patterns and make connections between languages
- Show curiosity about French-speaking cultures and communities
- Respect cultural and linguistic diversity
- Demonstrate resilience when encountering unfamiliar language
- Build secure foundations for language learning at secondary school
The impact of French at Ridgeway Farm CE Academy is seen through children’s enthusiasm, confidence and willingness to communicate. Pupils develop increasingly secure knowledge and skills across listening, speaking, reading and writing and can recall and apply what they have learned.
Children leave Ridgeway Farm CE Academy as curious, confident and compassionate global citizens, equipped with strong foundations in French, an appreciation of other languages and cultures, and the confidence to continue their language-learning journey.