DMS Curriculum Intent, Implementation and Impact Overview

Intent

With a world-famous castle and a major international airport on its doorstep, Dedworth Middle School is well placed to appreciate the need to learn about other cultures and languages. Children are therefore encouraged to develop an interest in learning French in a way that is enjoyable and stimulating. We develop children’s confidence; we strive to stimulate and encourage children’s curiosity about language. We aim to develop their awareness of cultural differences in other countries, through our protected characteristics, British values, and curriculum enrichment opportunities. We strive to embed the skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing necessary to enable children to use and apply their French learning in a variety of contexts and lay the foundations for future language learning. 

Our inclusive and high-quality languages curriculum is designed to progressively develop children skills in languages, through weekly taught lessons. Children will progressively acquire, use, and apply a growing bank of vocabulary organised around a variety of topics. 

Implementation

At DMS, we deliver a scheme of learning in MFL that meets the National Curriculum requirements issued by the DfE. The school employs an experienced MFL specialist as Head of French, to work across the KS2 and KS3 classes. These lessons are delivered on a weekly basis, lasting 50 minutes per session. The children develop subject-specific skills and vocabulary, and they build upon their prior learning and recap each week so that the children’s knowledge is secure. Children are encouraged and supported to develop their speaking and listening skills through conversational work, singing activities and team games.  There are regular events (such as French café, themed weeks, and European Day of Languages whole school competitions) to develop intercultural awareness. As confidence and skills develop, children record their work through pictures, captions, and sentences.  Displays are used to remind children of key vocabulary and to encourage spontaneous talk in French.  Practical activities, songs, and interactive games (such as Linguascope website) are used to help improve memory and recall, as well as foster engagement and enjoyment of learning French. We follow the ‘Accès Studio’ course at KS2 to ensure coverage and progression across school. At KS3, we follow a range of modules from Studio 1 and 2 French course books. 

Impact

Progress is monitored through a variety of AfL methods covering all four key skills: teacher feedback, low stakes assessments (such as vocabulary tests), end of topic tests and a monitoring system (Target Tracker) to see how children are progressing through age-related expectations.  Pupil voice and self-assessment commentary show that the children thoroughly enjoy and engage with their French lessons. The children enjoy using their French learning in other areas of the curriculum and outside of school (such as Y8 trip to Paris in June).  They also acquire foreign language skills that they can apply in real life situations. 

FRENCH Yearly Overview