As part of a rich and wide curriculum The Beacon School teaches French as a second language in Years 2 to 8. The National Curriculum states that a core of knowledge and cultural experience are the entitlement of every pupil, and are imperative in fostering the idea of being a "citizen of the world". At The Beacon our aim is to prepare our pupils for the contemporary world. We see the teaching of French as an important window of opportunity for pupils to see and experience the wider world. Our overriding aim is to enthuse the boys with the French Language and develop a love of language learning, which will continue in their future education and life. This we do in tandem with The Beacon's aim to encourage high standards of achievement.

In the Lower School we base our teaching on the guidance from the QCA scheme of work for modern languages. In Years 2 and 3 focus is on the spoken word, the emphasis being on the listening and speaking skills over those of reading and writing, although these are not ignored. Lessons are designed to stimulate enjoyment and incorporate a variety of techniques to encourage the boys to have an active engagement in French: these include games, rôle-plays and songs.

In Year 4 teaching continues to be based on the QCA guidelines for the teaching of modern languages at Key Stage 2. Topics and themes are developed from those in Year 3 with more emphasis being placed on the reading and writing skills.

In Year 5 and through to the end of Year 8 we adopt a more formal approach. The course we use in the Upper School is Encore Tricolore Nouvelle Édition. ICT plays an important role in the consolidation and reinforcement of our teaching. 

In the Upper School boys have the opportunity to use the new language suite.  We use the Sony Virtuoso system that allows boys to complete listening and speaking tasks independently at their own pace and allows for greater flexibility in differentiated learning. 

Every boy in Year 7 is given the opportunity to go to the Château de la Baudonnière in Normandy (see link on right). Here they spend a week attempting a wide range of outdoor pursuits and are required to use French throughout.

By the time the Beacon boy leaves the school in Year 8 we hope to have furnished him with a sound knowledge of the French language and the desire to continue learning French in his next school and indeed in later life.

Helen Marshall
Head of French