French is taught to all our pupils in Year 7 in mixed ability
form groups. Some of our pupils will have studied some French prior
to arriving in the Senior School which can be an advantage in the
early weeks. We do not however assume any previous knowledge and
pupils new to the subject almost always catch up by the end of the
Autumn Term. In Years 8 and 9 pupils are taught in broad setting
based on their performance in the end of Year 7 examination. Our
teaching is based around the course book Encore Tricolore nouvelle
edition. We are currently replacing this with Tricolore Total which
contains complementary ICT online resources. We study the language
through a systematic grammar based work scheme with regular testing
of one of the four skills of listening, reading, writing and
speaking at the end of every unit. We conduct our lessons in the
target language where it is useful to do so, but we are not afraid
to explain grammar points or discuss work in English where an
awareness of the finer details of language is paramount.
In the GCSE years French becomes an option. Uptake of modern
languages in the School continues to be high. We currently take the
linear AQA examination and will continue to use AQA with the new
specification.
In Years 12 and 13, we offer AS and A2 courses following the AQA
specification. We use the text book produced by Nelson Thornes
specifically for the course. This is complemented by online
resources which all students have access to. We conduct our own
oral examination. We enter our pupils for June modules in both
years. Pupils in Year 13 are offered a re-sit opportunity of AS
modules in January.
In order to assist our pupils in the examination years we
appoint a French assistant through our link with the Université de
Bourgogne. The member of staff helps prepare our students for the
presentation and general conversation aspects of the GCSE and with
the necessary contemporary cultural awareness needed for A Level
success.
We subscribe to several periodicals including Le Monde des Ados.
The most recent copy is in the senior library and back copies are
in the departmental office.
We have installed a satellite TV system with direct feeds to the
TVs in our dedicated and well-equipped classrooms. This enables
students to watch the day's news live in classrooms during the
lunch hour or recorded onto CD for later use. Our system allows us
to access TV5 and to record the evening news bulletins. Pupils are
also encouraged to watch broadcasts by logging onto French
television websites.
We are currently updating the ICT software provision to our
students especially in the exam classes. We have purchased
Boardworks for PowerPoint presentations and our online subscription
to Linguastars is used with GCSE groups. Individual PCs linked to
data projectors/interactive whiteboards have been installed in our
classrooms and material complementary to our course books is on our
main network in the ICT suite which classes can use. Sixth Formers
can access this material in the Learning Centre in order to further
autonomous study.
Departmental Activities
In the final week of Year 7 we offer a 5 day residential trip to
Paris. We stay in a centre purpose built for students in the
suburbs. Our pupils visit the sights in small groups with pairs of
teachers at least one of whom is French speaking. Pupils order
their lunch in cafés and have some opportunities to speak French
studied in their first year. Our itinerary usually takes in the
Eiffel Tower, a boat trip on the Seine, the Cathedral of
Notre-Dame, the basilica Le Sacré Cœur , the Palace at Versailles,
the Stade de France , the Louvre museum and other monuments and
sights on the way. Such has been the popularity of this trip since
its launch over ten years ago that we have always filled at least
two full-sized coaches.
We have a well-established exchange to Moulins (Central France)
for our Year 9 pupils which began in 1984. Our partner school, Le
Collège St Benoît, is an independent mixed Catholic school. We work
in conjunction with our Girls' Division and are usually able to
offer between 20 and 25 places to each division. The principle of
the exchange is that a French boy is matched to you and you look
after them in your home. Trips and activities are organised each
year by the school.
We organise home stay visits in France for our Sixth Formers
through the Ardmore Group (formerly SEE Europe). This year we are
staying in the Ile de France (Parisian suburbs).
Our French Assistant runs Le Club Français one lunch time per
week for Lower School pupils offering games and activities. We have
started a French Cinema Club for Sixth Formers giving pupils the
opportunity to study and watch films on an informal basis. Richard
Peltier from Français Facile has organised a Year 9 French
activities day in school.
Our older pupils usually attend conferences and lectures at
local universities such as language topic days through Phillip
Allan Updates.
Head of Department:
A C Robson, BA
Members of the Department:
Mrs H M Baker, BA
A I McNeil, MA (Ed), BA
M H J Prentki, BA
Miss R Dalmat (French Assistant)