French

Contact Details

Students begin their GCSE French course in Year 9 at Hendon. During Key Stage 3, they build strong foundations in the four key language skills - listening, speaking, reading and writing - as well as essential vocabulary and grammar, which prepares them well for GCSE study.

The GCSE course enables students to further develop their linguistic skills while also deepening their understanding of French-speaking cultures around the world. In addition to classroom learning, students benefit from a range of enrichment opportunities, which in previous years have included French film screenings and trips abroad, and we are working to reintroduce these experiences.

At Key Stage 4, we follow the AQA GCSE French (8652) specification. The qualification is assessed at the end of Year 11 through four exams, one in each of the core skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Each exam contributes 25% towards the final GCSE grade.

The course is structured around three key themes:

• Theme 1: People and lifestyle
• Theme 2: Popular culture
• Theme 3: Communication and the world around us

These themes are introduced and taught across Years 9 and 10, allowing students to build a strong foundation in vocabulary and grammar. In Year 11, all topics are revisited in depth, giving students the opportunity to consolidate their knowledge, develop more complex language, and deepen their understanding of key grammatical structures.

The Year 11 curriculum is designed to focus on exam preparation across all four skills, enabling students to perform at their best in the final exams. It also provides extensive opportunities for modelling high-quality responses and developing independent learning skills, ensuring students become confident and autonomous learners.

Students are also assessed at the end of each unit in all four skills to monitor progress and support achievement.

Students are entered for either the Foundation tier (grades 1–5) or the Higher tier (grades 4–9), and must take all four exam papers at the same tier.

Curriculum Learning Journey:

How to Prepare Effectively

Students make the strongest progress when they adopt consistent and focused revision habits. We recommend the following approach:

• Revise little and often - short, regular sessions of 15–20 minutes each day are far more effective than last-minute cramming.
• Prioritise core language - focus on learning and revisiting key vocabulary, as well as practising essential verbs across three-time frames (past, present and future).
• Use a combination of resources - for example, Quizlet is excellent for vocabulary practice. This should be supported with regular exam-style practice to build confidence and technique. 

Developing these habits over time will help students feel more confident and better prepared for their GCSE exams.

Useful Links

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/french/gcse/french-8658/specification - all course information

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/zp838p3 - for reviewing essential topic-specific vocabulary and grammar

https://quizlet.com/latest - vocabulary practice on all themes / units. Each year group has an assigned class set.