KS3 FRENCH

Click here to see the curriculum in Years 7 - 9.

Many pupils enter the Grammar School with some previous knowledge of French acquired in their Primary schools, but there is no uniformity of provision and the standard of achievement of students varies considerably. Hence, the Grammar School course starts with no assumptions being made about the students’ previous knowledge, although every effort is made to capitalise upon such knowledge where it is in evidence.

There are no ‘setting’ arrangements in Year 7 or Year 8; pupils are taught in one of four teaching groups of approximately equal size (23 – 25); they remain with these same groups for almost all subjects across the Year 7 / 8 curriculum.

In Year 9 three 55 minute periods are divided between the teaching of French and a second foreign language – either German or Spanish. Students are put into mixed ability sets according to their choice of second foreign language.

At the end of Year 9 students opt to continue with either French or German or Spanish as their main GCSE language. There is also the possibility for the more gifted linguists to take French in the Option block enabling them to continue studying 2 languages.

A STUDENT’S GUIDE TO COMPLETING HOMEWORK

CHECKLIST ( in the lesson ) :

• I have written down my homework in my planner.
• I have fully understood what my teacher wants me to do.
• I know when the work must be completed.

CHECKLIST ( at home ) :

Written tasks :

• I have dated my work in the target language.
• I have written a heading and underlined it.
• I have set out my work as well as I possibly can.
• I have illustrated my work with care, using colouring pens or pencil (not ink).
• I have thought about what I have done and not just copied from the text-book.
• I have checked any spellings/genders/verb endings that I was not sure about.
• I have checked targets from previous homeworks.
• I have not rushed my work.
• I will hand in my homework at the required time.

Learning tasks:

• I have spent the required amount of time on the task.
• I have applied the best possible learning techniques to this task.
• I am looking forward to being tested with confidence.

And finally :

• I have learned something from my homework task.

Throughout the year there are opportunities for talented linguists to take part in extra-curricular activities. The French Eisteddfod, the French exchange in Year 9 and competitions in Euroweek are such opportunities. Click here to read some comments about the French exchange from our partner school in St Lo.