GCSE French – Small Group Classes in Old Amersham
Unlock Your Child’s Potential in GCSE French!
Our expert-led small group classes in Old Amersham are designed to help students excel in all aspects of the new GCSE French curriculum. With a clear focus on improving the core language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, we aim to ensure your child feels fully prepared and confident for their exams.
What Sets Our Classes Apart?
- Aligned with AQA’s New 2026 Specification: We closely follow the latest AQA GCSE French specification (for exams from 2026 onwards), ensuring that students are fully prepared for the updated exam format, which includes a stronger emphasis on communication and cultural understanding.
- Focus on Key Themes: Our lessons explore the three major themes required by the new specification—Identity and Culture, Local, National, International and Global Areas of Interest, and Current and Future Study and Employment. Each theme is carefully broken down into sub-topics, allowing for a deep understanding of the material and real-world application.
- Individual Attention in Small Groups: With our small class sizes, your child receives personalised attention, ensuring they can ask questions, practice at their own pace, and work through any challenges.
- Developed for Exam Success: We focus on all four exam skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Regular mock exams, timed practice, and targeted feedback help your child improve their exam technique, manage their time effectively, and build confidence in their abilities.
- Flexible Schedule to Fit Your Life: Our Friday evening sessions (6:30pm - 7:30pm) are designed to fit around busy schedules. Should this time not be suitable, we are happy to discuss alternative arrangements for groups of 4 or more students.
Class Fees & Payment
- GCSE Sessions: £25 per hour (Term-time sessions, one hour each)
- Annual Fees: £30
- Teaching Material: £10
- Full fees are payable in advance each term. Please note that fees are due regardless of attendance, including for absences due to illness.
Want a More Tailored Approach?
We offer private tuition sessions, providing a bespoke learning experience at a time that works best for your child. For more information or to discuss availability, please contact us directly.
Get in Touch Today!
We’re here to help your child succeed in their GCSE French exams. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to improve their skills and boost their confidence. Reach out to book a space or for any questions you may have.
Why Parents Choose Our Classes?
- Boosted Exam Results: Our proven approach leads to real improvements in exam performance.
- Personalised Learning: Small classes mean your child gets the attention they need to thrive.
- In-depth Understanding: Our focus on both language skills and cultural context ensures a well-rounded preparation for the GCSE exams.
- Convenient and Flexible: Evening classes and private tuition options fit into busy family schedules.
GCSE French Themes & Topics
People and lifestyle
Communication and the World Around Us
People and lifestyle
- Topic 1: Identity and relationships with others
- Topic 2: Healthy living and lifestyle
- Topic 3: Education and work
Popular Culture
Communication and the World Around Us
People and lifestyle
- Topic 1: Free-time activities
- Topic 2: Customs, festivals, and celebrations
- Topic 3: Celebrity culture
Communication and the World Around Us
Communication and the World Around Us
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
What are the 4 GCSE French Assessment Objectives?
Paper 1: AQA GCSE French Listening
What's assessed ?
- Understanding and responding to spoken extracts comprising the defined vocabulary and grammar for each tier.
- Dictation of short, spoken extracts
How it's assessed?
- Written exam: 35 minutes (Foundation tier), 45 minutes (Higher tier)
- 40 marks (Foundation tier), 50 marks (Higher tier)
- 25% of GCSE
- Recording controlled by the invigilator with built-in repetitions and pauses.
- Each exam includes 5 minutes’ reading time at the start of the question paper before the listening material is played and 2 minutes at the end of the recording for students to check their work.
Questions?
- Section A – listening comprehension questions in English, to be answered in English or non-verbally (32 marks at Foundation tier and 40 marks at Higher tier)
- Section B – dictation where students transcribe short sentences, including a small number of words from outside the prescribed vocabulary list (8 marks at Foundation tier and 10 marks at Higher tier)
Paper 2: AQA GCSE French Speaking
What's assessed?
- Speaking using clear and comprehensible language to undertake a Role-play
- Carry out a Reading aloud task
- Talk about visual stimuli
How it's assessed?
- Non-exam assessment (NEA)
- 7–9 minutes (Foundation tier) + 15 minutes' supervised preparation time
- 10–12 minutes (Higher tier) + 15 minutes' supervised preparation time
- 50 marks (for each of Foundation tier and Higher tier)
- 25% of GCSE
Questions?
The format is the same at Foundation tier and Higher tier, but with different stimulus materials for the Role-play and the Reading aloud task. For the Photo card task, the same photos are used at both tiers.
- Role-play – 10 marks (recommended to last between 1 and 1.5 minutes at both tiers)
- Reading aloud task and short conversation – 15 marks (recommended to last in total between 2 and 2.5 minutes at Foundation tier and between 3 and 3.5 minutes at Higher tier)
- Reading aloud task: minimum 35 words of text at Foundation tier and 50 words at Higher tier
- Short unprepared conversation
- Photo card discussion – 25 marks (recommended to last between 4 and 5 minutes in total at Foundation tier, and between 6 and 7 minutes in total at Higher tier)
- Response to the content of the photos on the card (recommended to last approximately 1 minute at Foundation tier and approximately 1.5 minutes at Higher tier)
- Unprepared conversation (recommended to last between 3 and 4 minutes at Foundation tier and between 4.5 and 5.5 minutes at Higher tier)
Paper 3: AQA GCSE French Reading
What's assessed?
- Understanding and responding to written texts which focus predominantly on the vocabulary and grammar at each tier
- Inferring plausible meanings of single words when they are embedded in written sentences
- Translating from French into English
How it's assessed ?
- Written exam: 45 minutes (Foundation tier), 1 hour (Higher tier)
- 50 marks (for each of Foundation tier and Higher tier)
- 25% of GCSE
Questions?
- Section A – reading comprehension questions in English, to be answered in English or nonverbally (40 marks)
- Section B – translation from French into English, minimum of 35 words at Foundation tier and 50 words at Higher tier (10 marks)
Paper 4: AQA GCSE French Writing
What's assessed?
- Writing text in the language in a lexically and grammatically accurate way in response to simple and familiar stimuli
- Translating from English into French
How it's assessed?
- Written exam: 1 hour 10 minutes (Foundation tier), 1 hour 15 minutes (Higher tier)
- 50 marks (for each of Foundation tier and Higher tier)
- 25% of GCSE
Questions?
Foundation tier
- Question 1 – student produces five short sentences in response to a photo (10 marks)
- Question 2 – student produces a short piece of writing in response to five compulsory bullet points, approximately 50 words in total (10 marks)
- Question 3 – student completes five short grammar tasks (5 marks)
- Question 4 – translation of sentences from English into French, minimum 35 words in total (10 marks)
- Question 5 (overlap question) – student produces a piece of writing in response to three compulsory bullet points, approximately 90 words in total. There is a choice from two questions (15 marks)
Higher tier
- Question 1 – translation of sentences from English into French, minimum 50 words in total (10 marks)
- Question 2 (overlap question) – student produces a piece of writing in response to three compulsory bullet points, approximately 90 words in total. There is a choice from two questions (15 marks)
- Question 3 – open-ended writing task (student responds to two bullets, producing approximately 150 words in total). There is a choice from two questions (25 marks)
