Page 29 - Sixth Form Courses 2026-2028

A LEVEL
FRENCH

OVERVIEW French language skills are highly sought after both in the European community
and the wider world. According to the latest survey carried out by the British
Council, French is ranked in the top three languages sought after by British
businesses.
Spoken on five continents, French is one of the major languages for
communication today. Almost 235 million people have French as their mother
tongue or are fluent in it. Around 85 million young people and adults are learning
it worldwide. French is also the second language of the EU and one of the United
Nations’ principal working languages, one of the two official languages of the
International Olympic Committee and the African Union’s main language.
In the fields of aeronautics and civil engineering, hospitality, tourism, luxury goods
and fashion, French is associated with high levels of expertise, technology and
modernity.

APPROACH Good listening and speaking skills are necessary, as is a logical mind which copes
well with learning grammar and vocabulary. The ability to write well-structured
essays and an enjoyment of literature and film is an advantage. Students will be
advised on how to choose the best resources available online to personalise their
reading and listening experience in French. You will be supported by a French
assistant who delivers weekly oral lessons on a one-to-one basis.

COURSE OUTLINE Progress towards the A level is tracked by formal assessments each half term, a
robust examination at the end of the Lower Sixth and a mock examination in the
Upper Sixth. The final external examinations at the end of the two-year course
consist of a combined listening, reading and writing paper, a separate writing
paper and a separate speaking exam.
In the Lower Sixth, students study nearly all the key grammar needed to speak the
language fluently. In addition, they will study a theme from Social Issues and
Trends, Aspects of French-Speaking Society: Current Trends, one theme from
Artistic Culture, Artistic Culture in the French-Speaking World, and a film.
In the Upper Sixth, grammar covered in Lower Sixth is reinforced so that accuracy
and manipulation of the language improves. In addition, students will explore a
further theme from Social Issues and Trends: Aspects of French-Speaking Society
– Current Issues, a further theme from Political Culture Aspects of Political Life in
the French-Speaking World, a literary text, as well as an individual research project
for speaking assessment.

FURTHER INFORMATION If you feel you would like to study languages at university, it is often a good idea to
study two of them to A level. This is also helpful if you are planning on studying a
language at university that you have not studied before as it will demonstrate that
you are a good linguist.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS At least grade 6 (B) in French at GCSE and grade 7 (A) or above is desirable.

EXAM BOARD AND 7652
SPECIFICATION https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/french/a-level/french-7652/specification

CONTACT Head of Languages
Mr M Nash
nash.ma@millfieldschool.com

27 MILLFIELD SIXTH FORM 2026-2028