A BBC investigation has found that foreign language learning in secondary schools around the UK has reached its lowest levels, with drops of between 30 per cent and 50 per cent seen since 2013 in the numbers of students taking GCSE language courses in some parts of England, a number that perhaps could be increased with the introduction of new technology such as GCSE e-learning courses.
The news source tried to get in touch with nearly every one of the near 4,000 mainstream secondary schools across the country, with over half responding. The majority of those said that the perception was that languages are a difficult subject, which is the main reason behind this decline in interest.
Interestingly, however, although German and French have fallen away at GCSE level, there has in fact been a noticeable climb in others, including Spanish and Mandarin. In 2001, just 2,500 students were taking languages other than French, Spanish, German or Welsh, but by 2017 this number had climbed to 9,400.
Commenting, chief UK policy director for business group the CBI Matthew Fell said: “The decline in language learning in schools must be reversed, or else the UK will be less competitive globally and young people less prepared for the modern world.
“As well as speaking a foreign language, increasing young people’s cultural awareness and their ability to work with people from around the world is just as important.”
MPs and peers have now come out and said that schools should be teaching languages to students aged between five and 18 in order reverse this decline in language skills. However, head teachers have also warned that this is unrealistic as a result of teacher shortages and funding pressures.