‘What’, I hear you cry, ‘How can it be good news that fewer pupils are learning a language’. Of course, there is a downside – but also an upside. And that’s what I’d like you to consider. . .
First – some facts
In England’s schools, entries for language GCSEs have dropped by 48%. German has dropped by 65% and French by 62% over the past 15 years.
The plunge began when languages were made non-compulsory GSCE subjects in 2004. In 2018, just 5.5% of England’s GCSE entries were for a modern foreign language, according to the Joint Council for Qualifications. A third of schools in England allow pupils to opt out of languages in year nine, according the British Council’s annual language trends survey.
By contrast, the government wants 75% of pupils to take a modern language GCSE by 2022.
The situation is worse at A-level, down by more than one-third in French and 45% in German since 2010. Which means a fall of 12% in those going on to learn a language at university since 2013. Worse, many universities have cut back or scrapped language degrees.
So – what’s the good news?
Fewer learning a language means more opportunities for those who do. We know that there is a big demand for multi-lingual speakers throughout the world in all sorts of careers. From engineering to nursing and from computing to banking, a second language is highly sought after by companies large and small.
We can help you achieve great results, at every stage of education. Our language classes, from French to Mandarin, group based and/or 121 work. With us, we will give you that extra va va voom to get through your language exams. Contact us now for how we can help you open up a great career.