GCSE language take-up falling survey shows

21 Jan 2010

The National Centre for Languages has highlighted a decline in languages take-up.

Declining take-up of foreign languages at GCSE has been highlighted by the latest Language Trends survey from the National Centre for Languages (CILT).

Based on a poll of 2,000 institutions in England, the survey shows the percentage of schools where more than 50 per cent of pupils study a language in year ten has fallen from 45 per cent in 2008-09 to 40 per cent today.

According to CILT, the falling take-up is down to the structure of post-14 education and its link to performance tables and not disaffection from students who appear keen to study the languages.

"The need for our young people to learn languages has never been greater, with language skills becoming increasingly important when competing for jobs in the global marketplace," said CILT chief executive Kathryn Board.

"Young people are enthusiastic about learning languages but the system can be an obstacle," she said, calling for more cooperation between stakeholders to tackle the challenges.

GCSEs and A Level courses are among the professional and vocational qualifications including degree pathways offered through distance learning.

Posted by Caroline Eades