The French bilingual program at Killarney Heights Public School was launched in 1999 by a group of French-Australian parents who wanted to ensure their children benefited from a bilingual education. As such, The French-speaking Association of the North Shore (FANS), a not-for-profit organisation, was born to help promote the French language and francophone culture amongst families residing in the Northern Beaches.
In its inception year, the program was piloted to 27 students. Fast forward to 2022, the school counts close to 600 students enrolled in the bilingual program, roughly 90% of the students. This growth and popularity stems from a strong and effective partnership between Killarney Heights Public school and FANS, with the collaboration evident in the classrooms, where Department of Education teachers work together with a team of 14 native French teachers to deliver the NSW curriculum in French and English. This whole-school approach to bilingualism now forms part of the school’s identity and the school has enshrined in its strategic vision the importance of delivering an excellent education within a unique bilingual setting.
Two distinctive streams are offered: the Francophone stream targets background speakers and students who have at least one native French-speaking parent at home, designed to either maintain the students’ bilingualism or help develop the students’ French fluency, primarily focusing on grammar, comprehension and writing skills. The Anglophone stream is designed for families eager to learn French as a second language or simply enjoy the benefits of a bilingual education. The students may start with no notion of French or come from families who speak another foreign language. This program focuses on developing oral and reading skills with the option of adding intensive hours to strengthen speaking and writing skills.
Both programs enjoy a mix of pedagogic methodologies tailor-made to optimise the French instruction hours. The French teacher will have a reduced group of students, and the lessons will either focus more intensively on the French language during literacy hours or be taught through an adapted immersion technique in a science or a geography module that forms part of the curriculum.
The beauty of the program is the culture created around the school: The French language is omnipresent, naturally integrated in the school’s daily life. French signs are seen around the school. Classrooms are decorated bilingually. The library has an important and comprehensive French section. Even the official school song is bilingual. In this environment, we see the celebration of French language and francophone culture in an inclusive way, attracting Australian families, mixed families and French speaking families from all corners of the globe.
Bringing families and cultures together around a modern bilingual curriculum as well as community events that celebrate and share the francophone culture is at the core of FANS’ objectives. The community naturally gels together as it seeks to nurture a multi- cultural identity and provide an inclusive environment extending and supporting the students’ education.
To find out more about the Bilingual Program, courses and cultural events that FANS offers,
email info@fanssydney.org or visit www.fanssydney.org