Across the Black Country Federation, we believe that learning a foreign language is an important part of preparing children for life in a connected, global society. Our CUSP (Curriculum with Unity Schools Partnership) French curriculum is designed to give pupils a secure foundation in speaking, listening, reading and writing French.

Through our curriculum, pupils:

• Build confidence in spoken and written French by developing vocabulary, phonics and grammatical knowledge.
• Improve their pronunciation and speaking skills through regular structured talk and listening activities.
• Learn to read and write with increasing accuracy, applying what they know about sounds and sentence structure.
• Develop an understanding of French culture, traditions and daily life.
• Revisit and strengthen key knowledge through regular practice and retrieval.

Our aim is that by the end of Key Stage 2, every child has a strong grounding in French and is well prepared to continue language learning at secondary school.

A Structured, Evidence-Informed Approach

The CUSP French curriculum follows a carefully sequenced model to support secure language acquisition. It includes:

• Systematic teaching of vocabulary, ensuring pupils gain a secure grasp of key words and phrases.
• Explicit phonics instruction to support accurate pronunciation and confident speaking.
• A strong emphasis on oracy, encouraging pupils to practise and rehearse spoken language regularly.
• Planned opportunities for reading and writing to develop comprehension and sentence construction.
• Learning about French-speaking countries and cultural traditions to broaden pupils’ understanding of the wider world.

This balanced approach ensures that pupils develop practical language skills alongside cultural awareness.

How French Is Taught

French is taught from Year 3 to Year 6. Each year is organised into six blocks of learning. Each block typically lasts six weeks: five weeks of structured teaching followed by a week for consolidation, retrieval and enrichment.

Lessons last between 30 and 40 minutes per week and may be delivered as one longer session or two shorter sessions. The curriculum is carefully sequenced to allow for repetition and reinforcement, while giving teachers flexibility to revisit and adapt content where needed.

Weekly Structure of a Block

Each block follows a clear pattern:

• Week 1: Vocabulary and phonics
• Week 2: Speaking and oracy
• Week 3: Reading
• Week 4: Writing and sentence construction
• Week 5: Consolidation
• Week 6: Retrieval and enrichment

This structure helps pupils build knowledge step by step, developing confidence over time.

Core Components of the Curriculum

Vocabulary and Phonics
Pupils are taught how French sounds work, supporting accurate pronunciation from the outset. Key vocabulary is introduced clearly and revisited regularly to strengthen long-term memory.

Speaking and Listening
Oracy is central to our approach. Pupils take part in structured speaking routines, role-play and conversational practice. Listening activities help them tune into spoken French and develop comprehension skills.

Reading
Children read short texts, stories and factual extracts. They learn to recognise familiar vocabulary and grammatical patterns, supporting fluency and understanding. Texts often link to aspects of French geography and culture.

Writing
Writing builds gradually from words and phrases to simple sentences. Pupils practise sentence construction and basic grammar, drawing on language they have already spoken and heard. Speaking typically precedes writing to support accuracy.

Cultural Knowledge and Global Awareness

An important element of the curriculum is learning about life in French-speaking countries. Pupils explore traditions, customs and everyday experiences, as well as significant places and people. They also learn that French is spoken in many countries beyond France, helping them see the language as relevant and widely used.

Assessment

Assessment in French is ongoing and supportive. Teachers monitor:

• Pronunciation and fluency in spoken work.
• Understanding through listening and reading tasks.
• Accuracy in sentence building and writing.
• Retention of key vocabulary through regular retrieval activities.

The consolidation week within each block allows teachers to revisit and strengthen areas where pupils need further practice.

Supporting All Learners

The curriculum is designed to be accessible to all pupils. Teaching includes clear modelling, visual supports and structured routines. Teachers adapt pacing and provide additional scaffolding where needed. The use of repetition, oral rehearsal and practical activities helps ensure that every child can participate and make progress.

The Impact of Our French Curriculum

By the end of Year 6, pupils are able to:

• Speak, listen, read and write in French with growing confidence.
• Pronounce words accurately using secure phonics knowledge.
• Understand key aspects of French culture and the wider Francophone world.
• Approach secondary language learning with a solid foundation in vocabulary, grammar and communication skills.

Our French curriculum aims not only to teach a language, but to foster curiosity, confidence and a lasting interest in the wider world.

Further Information

For more information about our CUSP French curriculum, including knowledge documents, curriculum overviews and phonics guidance, please contact our Curriculum Lead, Tom Amphlett, at info@brockmoor.dudley.sch.uk.