French – Key Stage 4

Broaden Your Horizons

French at Rainhill High School enables pupils to develop the confidence to communicate in one of the world’s most widely spoken languages. Through speaking, listening, reading and writing, pupils build practical language skills while developing an understanding of French-speaking cultures across Europe, Africa and the wider world.

Throughout Key Stage 3, pupils develop vocabulary, grammatical knowledge and accurate pronunciation through engaging, real-life topics. They gradually build confidence in communicating about themselves, their interests and the wider world while exploring the traditions and customs of French-speaking countries.

At Key Stage 4, pupils study GCSE French, where they extend their language skills across a broader range of topics, communicate with increasing fluency and accuracy, and develop the confidence to express opinions, discuss experiences and describe future aspirations. The course prepares pupils for further language study while developing valuable communication, problem-solving and cultural awareness skills.

Why Study French? French is spoken across five continents and is one of the most influential global languages. It is invaluable for careers in translation, diplomacy, tourism, business, education and beyond. Students who study French gain critical thinking and communication skills that are recognised by universities and employers alike.

Assessment

  • Listening (25%)

  • Speaking (25%)

  • Reading (25%)

  • Writing (25%)

All assessments are taken at the end of the course and include a balance of comprehension, translation, and verbal communication.

Year 7

Term 1 – All About Me, Family and Healthy Living

In Year 7, pupils begin by learning how to talk about themselves and their immediate world. They learn how to introduce themselves, describe their family members and talk about everyday topics such as food, health and lifestyle. Pupils develop confidence in understanding and using simple spoken and written language, while learning key grammatical structures such as present tense verbs, articles and basic sentence word order. Cultural learning is introduced through festivals, traditions and everyday life in French-speaking countries.

Term 2 – Home, Food and Healthy Living

During Term 2, pupils expand their vocabulary and language skills by learning how to describe their home and local area, as well as food and healthy living. They practise expressing likes and dislikes, asking questions and giving reasons for their opinions. Reading and listening activities help pupils understand short texts and conversations, while writing tasks support the development of clear and accurate sentences. Cultural understanding is developed through learning about typical foods, daily routines and customs.

Term 3 – Festivals, Pets and Free Time

In Term 3, pupils learn how to talk about their free-time activities, pets and cultural festivals. They develop greater confidence in speaking and writing, using adjectives and a wider range of verbs to add detail. Pupils explore festivals and traditions from the French-speaking world, helping them understand similarities and differences between cultures. Pronunciation and fluency continue to be a key focus throughout the term.

Year 8

Term 1 – School and Daily Life

Pupils build on their foundations by learning how to describe school life, subjects and routines. They practise giving opinions with reasons and begin to use a wider range of verbs and sentence structures. Listening and reading tasks become more challenging, encouraging pupils to understand longer texts and spoken passages. Pupils also compare school life in French-speaking countries with their own experiences.

Term 2 – Technology, Free Time and Global Connections

During Term 2, pupils explore topics such as technology, music, films and hobbies. They learn how to discuss how they use technology and how it affects daily life. Pupils begin to recognise and use different time frames, including past and future events, and develop greater accuracy in writing longer sentences. Cultural learning includes modern life, media and youth culture in French-speaking countries.

Term 3 – Customs, Festivals and Culture

In Term 3, pupils focus on customs, festivals and traditions from around the world. They develop their ability to describe events, express opinions and understand cultural practices that may differ from those in the UK. Reading, writing and speaking activities help pupils extend their responses and use more varied vocabulary, while pronunciation and fluency continue to improve.

Year 9

Term 1 – Role Models, School and Future Aspirations

Pupils begin to use French more independently and confidently. They learn how to describe role models, discuss future aspirations and talk about school in greater detail. Pupils practise using a wider range of tenses and structures, allowing them to express more complex ideas. Cultural learning includes education systems and attitudes towards work and ambition in French-speaking countries.

Term 2 – Home, Town and Local Area

During Term 2, pupils learn how to describe their town, local area and activities available nearby. They develop their ability to give opinions, explain preferences and describe places in more detail. Pupils apply grammatical knowledge from earlier years to produce longer spoken and written responses with increasing accuracy.

Term 3 – Travel and Tourism

In the final term of KS3, pupils study travel and tourism. They learn how to talk about holidays, past trips and future plans, using different time frames confidently. Pupils explore tourist destinations and cultural attractions, developing both language skills and cultural awareness. This term helps pupils consolidate their learning and prepares them well for GCSE study.

Year 10

Term 1 – My Personal World, Media and Technology

Pupils focus on topics linked closely to their everyday lives. They learn how to talk about themselves, their interests, friendships and free-time activities. Pupils explore the role of media and technology, discussing how they use mobile phones, apps and social media, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of technology. Throughout the term, pupils practise expressing opinions, giving reasons and referring to past, present and future events with increasing confidence.

Term 2 – Travel and Tourism

Pupils study travel and tourism. They learn how to describe holidays, discuss destinations and activities, and give opinions about different types of travel. Pupils practise talking about past holidays as well as future travel plans, including dream destinations. Cultural understanding is developed through learning about customs, festivals and tourism in French-speaking countries.

Term 3 – Lifestyle and Wellbeing, Consolidation and Skill Development

Pupils study lifestyle and wellbeing, learning how to talk about sport, health, diet and mental wellbeing. They consolidate the language studied so far and deepen their accuracy and fluency in a variety of tenses. They practise understanding longer listening and reading texts and producing more extended spoken and written responses. Translation skills are developed, helping pupils to move confidently between English and French.

Year 11

Term 1 – Studying and My Future & My Neighbourhood

Pupils study education, work and future aspirations. They learn how to describe school life, subjects and routines, express opinions about school rules and uniforms, and discuss part-time jobs and future career plans. Pupils also study their local area, learning how to describe where they live, evaluate advantages and disadvantages of their neighbourhood, and discuss environmental issues and sustainability.

Term 2 – Revision of Themes and Exam Skills

Pupils revisit all GCSE themes in greater depth. They practise responding to more challenging listening and reading texts, including unfamiliar language. Speaking skills are refined through structured and spontaneous conversation practice, helping pupils to communicate clearly and confidently in exam situations. Writing tasks focus on producing well-structured responses using a range of vocabulary, opinions and time frames.

Term 3 – Examination Preparation

Pupils focus fully on examination preparation. They practise GCSE exam questions across all four skills, refine their translation skills and improve accuracy in grammar and spelling. Pupils receive targeted feedback to strengthen weaker areas and build confidence ahead of their final GCSE assessments.