This year has seen the biggest ever response rate to the British Council’s Language Trends survey. It is a pivotal time for language learning in England’s schools. This annual survey has gathered information on language learning and teaching and assesses the impact of language-related policy measures and analyses strengths and weaknesses based on quantitative evidence and the views of Head teachers in Primary Schools and Heads of Modern Foreign languages in secondaries in England,
Click here to download the Language Trends 2022 Report and read on to find out the headline findings and how Newcastle is working to buck the trends in the fall in language learning take up and decline in international links.
Headline findings for the language trends survey
- There is a slow recovery in language learning following the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic
- Four out of five responding primary schools have been teaching languages for more than five years
- There is a great deal of variation in the amount of time devoted to languages in different primary schools across the country. Some pupils receive less than 30 minutes per week
- The trend in all school types is that an increasing number of schools are reporting no international engagement
- The data show that the government is not on target to meet its EBacc targets for numbers of pupils taking a GCSE in a language
- Spanish will take over French as the most popular language at GCSE by 2026 if current trends continue
- Spanish is now firmly established as the most popular A level language in England.
The report provides the policy context and background to the research and to language learning in England, including explaining the English Baccalaureate, the outcome of national consultation on changes to language GCSEs and some of the other initiatives and projecst underway to improve language learning, as well as the importance of language learning in the global economic context.
It also highlights findings from primary and secondary schools around the impact of the pandemic, challenges of meeting national curriculum requirements, as well as what is working well or could be improved and how. Transition between primary and secondary schools is a major issue and an area for improvement, as is the transition from Key Stage 3 to GCSE.
The report concludes that “a lot is going right for language learning in the UK and responding teachers
are passionate about the transformative impact they are having on children and young people in their classrooms” and that “by working together, government, policy makers, subject associations, school leaders and teachers can improve language learning for all young people in the near future.”
Newcastle’s focus on languages and international opportunities
Language skills and international connections are vital for children and young people, they widen perspectives, help them develop a broader set of life skills, as well as increasing academic performance. They also enhance their future education choices and career opportunities.
International Newcastle will continue to work with our partners to promote and support language learning and teaching and to continue to develop international links with our wide range of city, regional and national and international partners. We have been making significant progress over the last three years with this ambition.
Newcastle City of Languages is a partnership initiative which aims to increase language take up and improve teaching by brokering continuing professional development opportunities for language teachers, introducing new pilot projects (e.g. a French transition project), as well as promoting language learning and celebratory activities for children, young people, including by hosting the Express Yourself North East Festival of Languages annually in March
We also work with partners to support schools and colleges to develop international links, build relationships and collaboration and expand opportunities pupils to make international connections and gain international experiences, through virtual partnerships as well as applying for funding for visits abroad through the Turing Scheme.
There will be a session for schools on developing, enhancing and maintaining international partnerships at 3.00-5.30 on 28th September at Newcastle Civic Centre with British Council.
We are also exploring opportunities for work placements abroad (and hosting these in Newcastle for international partners) for students aged 16-18, to provide life-changing and career enhancing opportunities.
Click here to find out more and all the contact details for how we work with our partners to support international links, languages and cultural diversity.