The Sunday Times Top Primary Schools in UK 2023 We are delighted to have been awarded 7th best school in the South West Region and 138th Nationally.
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Modern Foreign Languages

Modern Foreign Languages (French) at St Joseph's

Le Seigneur est ma force et mon bouclier; mon coeur se confie en lui et je suis secouru. 

(Psaume 28:7)

 

Our vision:

At St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, we use the Language Angels scheme of work and resources to ensure we offer a relevant, broad, vibrant and ambitious foreign languages curriculum (French). Through Language Angels, we ensure teacher subject knowledge and pedagogy is the best it can be in order to teach well, deal with misconceptions and take learning further. We provide engaging activities which build on previous experiences and knowledge. Our learning is centred on real and relevant situations with our REACH values at the heart. We ensure our lessons are accessible and engaging for all by providing support or challenge as appropriate.

We believe that Language learning encourages aspiration and curiosity about the world around us; allowing children to explore different cultures and growing in confidence about communicating with people from French speaking countries. Learning another language creates understanding and empathy of the vast diversity of languages and cultures around our world. Understanding how we, and the language we are studying, fits into our Common home fosters solidarity with our brothers and sisters of other cultures. Furthermore, language learning promotes resilience as brand new words and grammar structures are being assimilated.

All pupils will be expected to achieve their full potential by encouraging high expectations and excellent standards in their foreign language learning - the ultimate aim being that pupils will feel willing and able to continue studying languages beyond Key Stage 2.

 

What does French look like at St Joseph's?

French is delivered using Language Angels and tackles many skills. Children will recap previous learning, learn new vocabulary and then have the opportunity to practice their new learning through speaking, listening and reading activities. A consolidation activity that involves reading and writing is then provided for the children to have a written record of the vocabulary or sentence structures they are learning. The speaking activities are a particular favourite, and the children relish the opportunity to say the new vocabulary they have acquired!

Inclusion

At St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, teachers create a positive attitude to language learning within their classrooms, and reinforce an expectation that all children are capable of achieving high expectations in French. 
 
Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of science involves carefully planned lessons for each topic and skill set of French. This allows for progression and depths; as well as adaptation for SEND, to ensure French is achievable for all.
 
Our French Curriculum is high quality; well thought out; with opportunities to embed our REACH values; and is planned to demonstrate progression. If our children are keeping up with the curriculum, they are deemed to be making good or better progress. Planning will ensure there is regular pupil conferencing and assessment opportunities to address misconceptions and gaps in understanding so that all children can keep up - not catch up.