Sir Thomas Rich's

 Gloucester

French at Sir Thomas Rich's

If you can speak French, you will be able to communicate with people on all continents.

The French Department is lively and active at Sir Thomas Rich's, aiming to develop assured, independent linguists with a deep understanding of French culture and the skills to communicate clearly and confidently in another language.


Head of Department:

Key Stage 3 - Years 7, 8 & 9

Teaching Arrangements: 6 periods a fortnight in Years 7, 8 and 9.
Homework Guidance: 30 minutes per week.
Assessment Arrangements: 2 of the following skills assessed per half term: listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Topics Covered:
Year 7
  • Personal information
  • School
  • Leisure activities
  • My local environment
  • Holidays
Year 8
  • New technologies
  • A visit to Paris
  • Identity and relationships
  • At home
  • Food and drink
Year 9
  • Social media
  • Health and fitness
  • Future careers
  • Adventure holidays
  • Environment: problems and solutions

Teaching Arrangements: 5 periods a fortnight in Years 10 and 11.
Homework Guidance: 2 x 30 minutes per week.
Assessment Arrangements: Listening, reading and writing examinations at the end of Year 11.
Speaking examination at the end of Year 11, conducted by teacher.
Students are entered at either Foundation or Higher tier for these papers.
Exam Specification: AQA Specification 8658 Topics Covered:
Year 10
  • Identity and culture
  • Local, national, international and global areas of interest
Year 11
  • Local, national, international and global areas of interest
  • Current and future study and employment
Entry Requirements: GCSE Grade 7 or above in French is required to study this course.
Teaching Arrangements: 9 periods a fortnight for Years 12 and 13, plus one lesson per week (individually or in pairs) with language assistant.
Homework Guidance: 2 hours per week.
Assessment Arrangements: The following examinations are taken at the end of Year 13: listening, reading and writing paper (2 hours 30 minutes); writing paper on film and literature (2 hours) and speaking examination (20 minutes approx).
Exam Specification: AQA Specification 7652 Topics Covered:
Year 12
  • Family life
  • Technology and society
  • Voluntary sector
  • Cultural heritage
  • Contemporary French music
  • Introduction to cinema and literature
Year 13
  • Current social issues
  • Political life
  • Study of a literary text
  • Study of a film
University courses this subject may be required for or lead onto:
  • Law
  • History
  • English
  • Media Studies
Careers that French may lead onto:
  • Translation and interpreting
  • Business
  • Civil service
  • Teaching
  • Travel and tourism
  • Diplomatic service
  • Journalism

"Learning to speak a foreign language is completely different from any other subject. It can be fun, engaging and the lessons are always stimulating. The teachers are great and a language will fit with anything else you may wish to study."
Tom, Year 12
"One of the main reasons for me changing to Tommies was because of the languages department. Although we are a small class, we all get along really well and therefore we get a lot of attention – my French has improved so much! At Tommies there is a French Assistant and she has really helped us improve our French (and our accents!) I really enjoy French and I’m very pleased that I changed schools."
Anna, Year 12
"I really enjoy French and one day I would love to live and work in France. Therefore, I decided to do languages at A-Level and hopefully at university too. We get to practise with the Language Assistant, which builds up confidence. Being a girl at an all-boys school was difficult at first, but now we’re fully integrated and everyone is really friendly and fun to be with."
Alice, Year 12

Year 8 and 9 Normandy trip to the PGL Centre Chateau du Tertre every two years.
Year 12 and 13 students are offered the opportunity to undertake a week of work experience in France.