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French A Level (AQA)

Folkestone Academy

Academy Lane, Park Farm Industrial Estate, Folkestone, Kent, CT19 5FP

GCE A/AS Level or Equivalent
Level 3

Available start dates

Available start dates

Thursday, 04 September 2025
Turner Sixth Form / Folkestone Academy/Turner Free School
Full time

Application Instructions

Applications Open - Awaiting information from school

Applications Close - Awaiting information from school

Entry Requirements - Minimum 4 grades in English and Maths with specific criteria depending on subject choice

How to Apply -

External applicants - Please apply via Kent choices on the T6 - Turner Sixth Form Page - which can be found here

Internal applicants - if you are already a pupil within the Turner Schools Trust you will be able to access our application form on our website.

Please ensure you add three courses in total to your application. (You are only able to choose one subject from each block). Please remember Sport Academy's are an added extra to your three chosen subjects.

Need help? Please see your school’s careers advisor if you are unsure how to apply. If you are unable to do so, please contact the Folkestone Academy for further advice on 01303 842400 or email pippa.ohanlon@turnerschools.com

Course Summary

Studying French not only opens doors to a further understanding of the language itself but also to future studies in other languages. It is an exciting and invaluable skill and demonstrates so much more than simply being able to learn vocabulary. Studying French at A level demonstrates resilience and tenacity; a willingness to explore and broaden one’s horizons and discover new cultures and ways of thinking along the way. Universities are actively looking for students with language skills and there are always opportunities to further develop your language skills alongside many other disciplines of degree. Studying French gives you’ another string to your bow’ and can open doors to employment. People who use a language in their job earn on average up to 8% more and you don’t have to move abroad to use your skills so ‘it pays’ to continue with your language studies. A level study covers the four key skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing and you will aim to improve your fluency and accuracy in all of these.

Course Details

The A Level course is divided into three assessed units. Papers 1 and 3 are based on the study of four themes. The themes address a range of social issues and trends, as well as the political and artistic culture of France and French-speaking countries: Aspects of French speaking society: current trends (Family structure; Cyber society, charity work) Artistic culture in French speaking countries (Music; Media; Festivals and traditions) Aspects of French speaking society: current issues (Multiculturalism, crime, exclusion, positive features of a diverse society) Aspects of political life & artistic culture in French speaking countries (Political engagement, immigration, strikes, cinema & art)

How will it be delivered and assessed?

Unit Paper 1

Title - Listening, reading and writing to include translation.

Weighting 50%

Unit Paper 2

Title - A written paper responding to questions on a prescribed text and film studied in class

Weighting 20%

Unit Paper 3

Title - Speaking exam largely based on a project that the student has researched independently and coming from the themes listed

Weighting 30%

Entry requirements

In order to enrol onto Sixth Form courses, applicants will need to have achieved at least 5 GCSEs at grades 9-4 (or equivalent) including English Language or Literature. Some subjects may require higher grades.

It is a requirement that all students need to achieve a 4 in either GCSE English language or English literature to study at Sixth Form. If a 4 has or above has been achieved in English Literature but not in English Language students will be required to re-sit the English Language exam until they do so. Any pupil not achieving a 4 in Maths will be required to re-sit the exam until they do so.


Your next steps...

The transferable skills you will acquire during the study of French A level will hold you in good stead in many areas whether you choose to continue with your studies or enter employment. A wide range of topics are covered throughout the course from cyber society and voluntary work to political engagement and immigration. During your A level studies you will learn how to present and formulate arguments and debates in French; have extended discussions on literary and cultural topics and themes; research an individual area of interest and work in teams as well as individually.


For more courses like this, check our courses page.