Foreign Language Assistant (French)

Reporting to: Head of Department (French)

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: 21 hours per week, term time only working between September to May each year (exact dates to be agreed on an annual basis).

Starting: As soon as possible.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced Foreign Language Assistant (French) to join our thriving Modern Foreign Languages department. This role would suit a native or
near‐native French speaker with a genuine passion for language, youth culture and contemporary Francophone society, including current affairs, politics, film and literature. You will bring a strong grasp of grammar, excellent communication skills and familiarity with the AQA A Level specification.

In this role you will support students in the development of fluency, pronunciation and spontaneity through one‐to‐one and paired speaking sessions.

You will play a key role in preparing students for GCSE and A Level oral examinations, assisting with mock orals, supporting assessed written work and helping students refine their accuracy, vocabulary and authentic pronunciation from KS3 upwards.

The successful candidate will be well-organised, self‐motivated and confident managing their own time and resources.

Previous experience working in an educational setting is essential, as is the ability to work closely within a collaborative department. You will liaise regularly with French teachers and the Head of Department, contributing to a supportive team ethos and responding flexibly to curriculum and examination demands.

You will support in enriching students learning by creating and sourcing authentic materials, particularly around rapidly evolving A Level themes such as politics, immigration and technology. This includes researching articles for independent Sixth Form conversation sessions, suggesting wider learning resources and helping to inspire a deeper, lasting interest in Francophone language and culture across the school.

If this sounds like the opportunity for you, we look forward to receiving your application.

Core Responsibilities

• Supporting students to prepare for oral examinations and practise their French speaking skills.
• Supporting in 1-2-1 and pair work sessions predominantly, but not exclusively, with Sixth form students, with the aim of improving students fluency, pronunciation, confidence, building vocabulary and inspiring a deeper interest in Francophone culture.
• Maintaining up to date knowledge of the AQA syllabus.
• Helping to support students’ assessment, including spotting grammatical errors in essays and assessed written pieces such as summaries and translations.
• Assisting with French phonic knowledge and engendering effective, authentic pronunciation from KS3 upwards.
• Working with students in Years 9 - 11 to support their preparation for the speaking elements of the new Edexcel GCSE exam. This can include working with small groups during timetabled classes or supporting lunchtime intervention sessions.
• Working closely within the collaborative ethos within languages and with the French subject teachers and Head of Department who will guide the work of the FLA.
• Managing own time and resources and work (as timetable allows) with Year 7 students to complement their timetabled lessons and provide a chance for them to use their French spoken skills meaningfully.
• Helping to create authentic materials for use in speaking sessions and exam preparation, especially for the themes that flex and change rapidly e.g. La politique, L’immigration (Year 13) and Les nouvelles technologies (Year 12).
• Assisting teachers by occasionally conducting and recording mock oral exams to enable quality feedback on exam criteria and advice to improve.
• Researching articles to support self- sufficient Sixth Form conversation sessions.
• Suggesting independent learning sources to broaden students learning.

Interview date: Thursday 12th February 2026

Person Specification:

How to Apply:
Please download the Application Pack and the Application Form by clicking on Apply Now. Along with your completed application form, please provide a Letter of Application indicating how your values, previous or current responsibilities and/or experience are particularly relevant to this post and indicating what you can offer to Pate’s Grammar School.

Pate’s Grammar School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment, and applicants must be willing to undergo relevant checks appropriate to the post, including checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service.