Intent

At Higham, we encourage an interest in and thirst for learning other languages. We are passionate as a team about introducing children to other languages in a way that is enjoyable and accessible to all pupils. We intend to stimulate and encourage children’s curiosity about language and creativity in experimenting with it. We intend to deliver high quality lessons, which ensure that our pupils have covered the skills required to meet the aims of the National Curriculum. Our lessons hope to embed the four essential skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing.  Our curriculum is designed to expose children to the three pillars of language learning; vocabulary, phonics and grammar. We aim to build the children’s ‘culture capital’ so that they are aware of similarities and differences between cultures. Lastly, we hope to lay the foundations for future language learning and foster an appreciation for other cultures.

Implementation

At Higham, our Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) curriculum is carefully designed to progressively develop pupils’ skills in French, using the Language Angels scheme of work as a structured foundation. This approach ensures that children acquire a growing bank of vocabulary organised around engaging topics, while gradually building confidence in the four key language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Each unit builds on prior learning, so pupils can revisit and consolidate knowledge before moving on to more complex language.

Our curriculum also provides opportunities for pupils to learn about France and its culture, helping them to appreciate similarities and differences between cultures and develop a sense of global awareness. Lessons are practical, interactive, and enjoyable, incorporating games, songs, and speaking activities to make learning memorable and fun for all learners.

All KS2 pupils receive weekly 40-minute French lessons for one term. In the following term, language and skills from that unit are revised weekly before a new unit is introduced, ensuring strong retention and progression. EYFS and KS1 pupils are introduced to other languages and cultures informally through topic work, stories, and celebrations when studying different countries, fostering early curiosity and enthusiasm for language learning.

Our curriculum fully meets the aims of the National Curriculum and is adapted to suit the ability levels of each group. Teachers use a range of strategies and resources to ensure lessons are inclusive, engaging, and appropriately challenging, so that every child can succeed and enjoy their language learning journey.

Impact

We believe that the impact of our Modern Foreign Languages Curriculum is that French will be valued by all children across the school and children will enjoy learning a new language. Pupils will develop confidence in speaking French, understanding words and phrases, and responding to spoken and written language from a variety of sources. They will also gain a sense of the wider world and an appreciation of other cultures, making meaningful comparisons with their own. Teachers will develop strong subject knowledge, enjoy teaching the subject, feel confident in the curriculum content that they are teaching and will also have a clearer understanding of the progression of skills across the key stages. The impact of our curriculum will be measured through a range of strategies, including observing pupils speaking and listening in French, asking key questions, marking written work, and gathering pupil voice through interviews about their learning experiences.