French
At St Catherine's our French Curriculum follows the aims of the National Curriculum for languages. Pupils are encouraged to understand and respond to spoken and written French, to communicate with growing confidence and accuracy, and to appreciate the language and culture of French-speaking communities.
French at St. Catherine’s
At St Catherine’s, we want children to enjoy learning another language and to feel comfortable using it. Through French, pupils discover new ways to communicate and make friends while exploring other cultures and developing curiosity about the wider world. French is taught in a lively, practical way which builds confidence and enthusiasm. Pupils listen, speak, sing, move, act and play games to make their learning memorable and enjoyable.
Although not statutory until Year 3, at St. Catherine’s children begin French in Year 1 as we firmly believe that younger children pick up language very readily. French lessons continue for every class until the children leave us at the end of Year 6.
EYFS and KS1
In Nursery and Key Stage 1, pupils are introduced to French through the everyday adventures of Lenny, Lulu and Bobo the dog.
These familiar characters form the basis of simple and engaging stories, bringing topics and vocabulary to life. Each story introduces a theme such as animals, colours, food or clothes with plenty of repetition and humour. As the weeks go by, new characters are added in, whilst the stories, themes and jokes overlap and develop.
Children join in through songs, actions and role play, extending the stories and using French naturally as they play. Lessons are full of movement, choices, short tasks and games to keep everyone involved. Trial and error, luck and skill all play a part, helping pupils to participate without fear of mistakes and enjoy real communication from the outset.
KS2
As pupils move into Key Stage 2, the story-based approach continues with brother and sister Luc and Sophie as they interact - and squabble! - in different settings such as the home, at school and in the park. Language grows in complexity in a lifelike context, alongside familiar vocabulary, phrases and structures which are continually revised.
Lessons include plenty of speaking and listening, short conversations and role plays, games, songs and simple reading and writing tasks. Pupils begin to recognise patterns in the language and build their own sentences with increasing confidence.
Cultural learning is woven throughout — for example, exploring food, music, traditions and festivals, together with life in French-speaking countries around the world, all aimed at giving pupils a real sense of where the language is spoken and how it is used.
Across the school, lessons begin with quick-fire quizzes and fun starter activities to help embed key high-frequency vocabulary, such as days of the week and weather. These moments are short, flexible and inclusive — giving every child the chance to take part, earn stickers or house points as they use their French more and more naturally.
Progress and Impact
Pupils at St Catherine’s show growing confidence in understanding and using French. They look forward to lessons, enjoy joining in with songs and stories, and are keen to share what they have learned.
By the end of Key Stage 2, children can take part in simple conversations, recognise key patterns in grammar and show an awareness of French-speaking culture. Above all, they know that learning another language is a skill for the world beyond the classroom — one that helps them to make friends, widen their horizons and see things from a different perspective.