Summer 2013 - The Independent Schools' Modern Language ...

From the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education and
Childcare
9 May 2013
Dear Chris,
Thank you for your email of 26 March, enclosing correspondence from your
constituent, Mr Michael Rauh of 37 Crystal Avenue, Stourbridge, West Midlands,
DY8 4AW, about the importance of foreign language learning in
schools.
I appreciate the points made by Mr Rauh, and agree that learning foreign
languages is important. It is because we are committed to reversing the decline
in language teaching, which occurred under the last Government, that
we have introduced reforms to reinvigorate the learning of foreign languages.
Mr Rauh will be aware that the national curriculum already stipulates that a
modern foreign language must be taught to all pupils in maintained secondary
schools in key stage 3 (ages 11 to 14), and we have no intention of
diluting that requirement. Pupils aged 14 to 16 also have an entitlement to
study a modern foreign language if they wish to do so.
Mr Rauh will be pleased to learn that research, from the Centre for British
Teachers, showed that 51 per cent of state secondary schools now have a
majority of their pupils taking a language in Year 10, compared to 36 per
cent in 2010. This rise is partly attributable to the English Baccalaureate
(EBacc) performance measure. This is intended to encourage more pupils to
study key academic subjects, including languages, and to open up opportunities
for all pupils to have a broad and well-rounded education. EBacc subjects,
which include foreign languages, when supplemented with wider study,
will provide an excellent foundation from which any young person can build
their further education after the age of 16.
Evidence, including from other countries, shows that children benefit from
being taught languages from an early age. This can inspire children with a
love of languages that will stay with them throughout their secondary education
and beyond.
Primary schools are not currently required to teach a foreign language, but
we are putting a new obligation in place for them to do so from September
2014. We want primary schools to teach French, German, Italian, Mandarin,
Spanish, Latin or Ancient Greek, as these languages will provide a strong
grounding for further language study. We have recently consulted on a new
draft national curriculum, including new programmes of study for languages,
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