GCSE French will build on the skills and knowledge gained in Key Stage 3 and extend them into more sophisticated contexts. The course, which is examined at either Foundation or Higher level, will lead to the full range of GCSE grades.

Theme 1: People and lifestyle

• Topic 1: Identity and relationships with others
• Topic 2: Healthy living and lifestyle
• Topic 3: Education and work

Theme 2: Popular culture

• Topic 1: Free-time activities
• Topic 2: Customs, festivals and celebrations
• Topic 3: Celebrity culture

Theme 3: Communication and the world around us

• Topic 1: Travel and tourism, including places of interest
• Topic 2: Media and technology
• Topic 3: The environment and where people live

Students will also have the opportunity to undertake a study trip to Paris. This will complement their GCSE French studies and allow students to practise the language in an authentic setting.

Students will be examined in the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing, all of which are assessed with a final exam at the end of Year 11. Each skill accounts for 25% of the final exam.

There are various Sixth Forms and Colleges around the local area where you can study A-level and BTEC qualifications. After studying GCSE French you could study A-level French at Sixth Form or College.

Languages are part of the cultural richness of our society and the world in which we live and work. Learning languages contributes to mutual understanding, a sense of global citizenship and personal fulfilment. Students learn to appreciate different countries, cultures, communities and people. By making comparisons, they gain insight into their own culture and society. The ability to understand and communicate in another language is a lifelong skill for education, employment and leisure in this country and throughout the world.