French

For an outline of the French curriculum by year group, please see our Curriculum Guides.

Philosophy of the Modern Language Department

We aim to expose children to a foreign language in a supportive environment which allows pupils to develop a key understanding of linguistic structures and where developing a strong cultural interest is encouraged.   We believe that the introduction of a foreign language early in school life increases the chances of successful mastery. 

With this in mind, every pupil from Reception through to Year 8 is taught French using a wide range of techniques from songs, games, fashion shows, ICT and films, to the more structured C.E. syllabus.   Every year the department organises several valuable language courses and trips.  In October pupils are given the opportunity to visit Lyon for four days and stay with their friends from our partner school, Ombrosa.   The Easter holiday sees the annual four day residential trip depart to St Omer, where we are based in a hotel and run three days of excursions in the local area.  Also taking place during the Easter break is the highly successful ‘Les Ambassadeurs’ course.  During this week long course, we welcome the staff and pupils from our partner school, Ombrosa, to Holmwood.  A wide variety of activities are laid on for the children in an environment that encourages our pupils to build strong relationships with their French counterparts. 

We organise trips to the Europa Centre in Havering where our pupils spend the day engaging in exactly the type of practice role-plays that they will encounter in their exams.  We regularly take part in the Eurotalk Junior Language Competition and have successfully gotten pupils through to the semi-finals on each occasion. 

All of our trips and courses have one essential aim in mind; to provide our pupils with an invaluable opportunity to try out their language with native speakers and see for themselves the importance of learning another language.  

Revision for Common Entrance

Below you will find a set of revision materials that are based on the format of the CE papers.  These are not questions from actual papers, but replicate the format of the papers and cover the various topics on the CE syllabus.  When you have had a go, your teacher will mark your work using the CE mark scheme.

• letter writing practice:                Practice 1                 Practice 2                 Practice 3                 Practice 4                 Practice 5
• picture sentence practice:        Practice 1                 Practice 2                 Practice 3                 Practice 4                 Practice 5
• writing paper:                              useful words            key verbs                  negatives
• reading paper:                            key questions   

Click here for guidance on the preparation of oral topics.

Weekly Spelling Sheets  

For parents information only, below are the current spelling sheets that children have been given:

Year 4                  Year 5                 Year 6