Curriculum
Year 7
Emphasis is placed on developing confidence in speaking, and on pronunciation, intonation and the development of aural memory right from the start. Care is taken particularly to build confidence in those who are beginners and to encourage those who have done French already to make positive use of what they know and to work to their best standard - more is expected of those who have done more! Girls are taught in their forms.
Grammar includes full paradigms of regular -er verbs and basic irregular verbs in Present Tense, agreement of adjectives, use of the article, prepositions and conjunctions, idiomatic phrases.
Individual writing is encouraged from the start and composition is introduced. Every girl has an oral and a listening exam at the end of the year as well as tests in reading comprehension, grammar and composition.
Main textbook: Encore Tricolore Nouvelle Edition 1, but this is supplemented in a variety of ways.
Year 8
More complex speaking and role plays (in the end-of-year exam) and composition writing. Grammar includes –ir and –re verbs in Present Tense plus additional irregular verbs. Introduction of the Passé Composé and the immediate future, formation of adverbs, comparison of adjectives, more complex prepositions and conjunctions. The end of year exam again tests all four skills.
Girls who experienced more difficulty with French in Year 7 are taught in slightly smaller groups in order to boost their performance.
Main textbook: Encore Tricolore Nouvelle Edition 2, again supplemented in different ways.
Year 9
More complex structures; oral presentation and role play as well as conversation: more complex compositions. Revision of Passé Composé and the immediate future and introduction of Futur Simple and some verb forms in the Imperfect. The end of year exam tests all four skills.
Girls generally (but not invariably) stay in the same group as in Year 8.
Main textbook: Encore Tricolore 3, again supplemented in a large number of ways.
Year 10 GCSE (Higher Level) (exam board: OCR) NEW CURRICULUM
- The four skills - Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing - are given the following weighting: Speaking and Writing 30% each, Listening and Reading 20% each
- Teaching groups are drawn up according to the timetable for the different options, i.e. there is no setting.
- The syllabus covers a wide range of topics and grammar is extended to include additional tenses and complex structures.
- The 5 topic areas provide contexts where learners explore the target-language countries and communities. These are: 1/Home and local area 2 /Health and sport 3/ Leisure and entertainment (includes online) 4/ Travel and the wider world and 5/ Education and work
- The textbooks are supplemented in a wide variety of ways, e.g. plays, poems, short stories, live performances in French whenever possible, film, and the integration of a selection from the current French press and radio into the syllabus.
- The reading and listening examinations are conducted in June of Year 11 whereas the written and speaking assessments are made of several controlled assessment tasks undertaken throughout Years 10 and 11.
- Main textbooks: Encore Tricolore 4.
Years 9 GCSE FAST-TRACK & 11 GCSE (Higher Level) (exam board: OCR)
- The four skills - Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing - are given equal weighting.
- The syllabus covers a wide range of topics and grammar is extended to include additional tenses and complex structures.
- The textbooks are supplemented in a wide variety of ways, e.g. plays, poems, short stories, live performances in French whenever possible, film, and the integration of a selection from the current French press and radio into the syllabus.
- Every girl has an additional oral lesson in a group of six.
- The oral exam includes role plays, a narrative role play, an individual presentation and extended general conversation.
- Main textbooks: Encore Tricolore 4.
Year 12 AS (AQA)
Syllabus: All the grammatical structures introduced for GCSE are revisited and consolidated and the Subjunctive is introduced as early as possible. Topics for AS include:
• MEDIA: Television, Advertising, Communication technology
• POPULAR CULTURE: Cinema, Music, Fashion/trends
• HEALTHY LIVING/LIFESTYLE: Sport/exercise, Health and well-being, Holidays
• FAMILY/RELATIONSHIPS: Relationships within the family, Friendships, Marriage/partnerships
During the bridge to A2 -period, the JAGS syllabus includes an introduction to Parisian literature and culture and Mai 68 and a three-day trip to Paris.
• Unit 1 – Listening, Reading and Writing 70% of AS, 35% of A Level 2 hour written examination, 110 marks
• Unit 2 – Speaking Test 30% of AS, 15% of A Level 35 minutes speaking test (including 20 minutes preparation), 50 marks.
Year 13 A2 (AQA)
Syllabus: The A2 units will draw from 3 main range of topics and two cultural topics. The AS grammar programme will have to be revisited and some additions made both in the verb and in the noun sections. Topics for A2 include:
• ENVIRONMENT: Pollution, Energy, Protecting the planet
• THE MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY: Immigration, Integration, Racism
• CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL ISSUES: Wealth and poverty, Law and order, Impact of scientific and technological progress.
This year, the selected cultural topics are le cinéma de François Truffaut et ‘L'étranger’ d'Albert Camus.
• Unit 3 –Listening, Reading and Writing (the writing is on one of the cultural topics) 35% of A Level
2 hours 30 minutes written examination, 110 marks
• Unit 4 – Speaking Test 15% of A Level 35 minutes speaking test (including 20 minutes preparation), 50 marks.
