Frequently Asked Questions

National Curriculum Documents

This is a selection of recent, or still current, official documents and web pages relevant to the teaching of modern languages in the National Curriculum or its equivalent in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Classifications are given for print titles held in the CILT Resources Library.

Inspection findings and advise from schools inspectorates are not included. These are available on our Inspection findings FAQ.

Primary and secondary education

Assessment for learning. QCA website.
These webpages include a case study for MFL for teachers of Key Stages 2 and 3. Also assessment bibliographies.

Curriculum information. DENI website.

Developing the Curriculum Cymreig. ACCAC, 2003. Document ref: AC/GM/0521.
ISBN: 1 86112 524 0. Orders and downloadable copy.

Improving transfer and transition in Key Stage 3 modern foreign languages: a focus on progression. DfES Publications, 2005. Ref: DfES 0184-2005 G. Downloadable pdf version.

Making the link: language learning 5-14. ACCAC (Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales), 2003. ISBN: 1 86112 525 9. Ref: AC/GM/0522. Downloadable pdf version.

Modern foreign languages: the National Curriculum for England Key Stages 3-4. London: DfEE and QCA, 1999. Available from TSO. ISBN: 011 370075X. QCA document reference: QCA/99/466. Supersedes 1995 edition. Can also be viewed online or downloaded. This document includes the non statutory guidelines for modern languages at Key Stage 2. CILT library classification: OJM.

Modern foreign languages: 2003/4 annual report on curriculum and assessment. QCA, October 2004. Document reference: QCA/04/1471. Available for downloading as a pdf.

Modern foreign languages: 2004/5 annual report on curriculum and assessment. QCA, December 2005. Document reference: QCA/05/2172. Available for downloading in pdf.

Modern foreign languages 2002/3 annual report on curriculum and assessment. QCA, March 2004. Downloadable pdf.

Modern foreign languages in the Key Stage 4 curriculum. QCA, 2004. Document reference: QCA/04/1300. Available for downloading in pdf format. Also available from QCA Orderline, on 8700 606 015 or orderline@qca.org.uk.

Modern languages: 5-14 national guidelines. Learning and Teaching Scotland in association with Scottish Executive, 2000. ISBN 1 85955 703 1.

National Curriculum in Action website. QCA website. MFL page links to database with examples of pupils' work, guidance on attainment, level descriptions and progression, ICT in MFL. It now includes a Creativity section with an MFL example.

The National Curriculum online: MFL. National Curriculum Online website. A hypertext version of the National Curriculum for MFL, including programme of study, attainment targets and KS2 guidelines.

Schemes of work. DfES Standards website. Access to all National Curriculum schemes of work including MFL KS2; MFL French KS3; MFL German KS3; MFL Spanish KS3 and other subjects for cross-curricular themes (e.g. Citizenship or ICT). Some individual documents are listed below under Key Stages 2 and 3.

Primary education

MFL in primary schools. QCA website. Has links to downloadable research reports by Cynthia Martin and Warwick University. Also QCA feasibility study.

Schemes of Work: MFL at Key Stage 2. DfES Standards website. Online and downloadable versions.

Secondary education

Flexibility in the secondary curriculum, Key Stages 3 and 4. QCA, 1999.
Downloadable from. Parts on disapplication at Key Stage 4 have been superseded (see above web page).

Planning, teaching and assessing the curriculum for pupils with learning difficulties - modern foreign languages. QCA, 2001. Available from QCA Orderline. ISBN 1 85838 472 9. Order code: QCA/01/743. £4. Key Stages 3 & 4. Also available as hypertext pages and in downloadable pdf format.

Section 96 qualifications. DfES website. Qualifications approved for the use of pupils in maintained schools, for learners and for further and work based education and training, for those under the age of 19 in England.

Using a range of language qualifications. QCA website. Lists acceptable MFL qualifications for the National Curriculum and post 16.

Key Stage 3

Additional official languages of the European Union. QCA website. Languages which may be offered to satisfy the requirements of the KS3 National Curriculum.

Framework for teaching modern foreign languages: Years 7, 8 and 9. DfES, 2003. Document reference: 0084/2003. CILT library classification: OJX. Available as hypertext pages or downloadable in pdf format. The Key Stage 3 MFL Framework.

Modern foreign languages - French: a scheme of work for Key Stage 3. QCA, 2000. Available from QCA Orderline. ISBN 185838 390 0. QCA order ref: QCA/00/453. CILT library classification: OZ 440 OJY. Also downloadable from Standards website.

Modern foreign languages - German: a scheme of work for Key Stage 3. QCA, 2000. Available from QCA Orderline. ISBN 185838 447 8. QCA order ref: QCA/00/608. CILT library classification: 0Z 430 OJY. Also downloadable from Standards website.

Modern foreign languages - Spanish: a scheme of work for Key Stage 3. QCA, 2000. Available from QCA Orderline. ISBN 185838 446 X. QCA order ref: QCA/00/609. CILT library classification: 0Z 460 OJY. Also downloadable from Standards website.

Modern foreign languages in the national curriculum in Wales. ACCAC, 2000. ISBN 07504 24117. Downloadable pdf version at

Key Stage 4

Entitlement courses. QCA website. Includes a section "Modern foreign languages entitlement area" covering changes to KS4 MFL.

GCSE booster pack: 2004 supplement. DfES, 2004. Reference DfES 0678-2004. Click here to download page. Includes Improving your GCSE coursework: French and Improving your GCSE coursework: German.

GCSE criteria for modern foreign languages. QCA, 2000.

GCSE French: review of standards 1996-2001. QCA, 2004.

Modern foreign languages in the Key Stage 4 curriculum. QCA, 2004. Document reference: QCA/04/1300. Can be downloaded from the QCA website or from the National Curriculum Online website.

Wales Curriculum 2000: Key Stage 4 – A guide for senior managers in schools in Wales. ACCAC, 2000. Document ref: AC/GM/0099. ISBN 1 86112 279 9. Orders and downloadable pdf version.

Further information

Bibliography on modern languages teaching in Scotland. Scottish CILT website.

A Curriculum for Excellence. Learning and Teaching Scotland website.

14to19 Reshaping languages.

Frequently asked questions: special educational needs. Links to information on special needs, including gifted and talented, dyslexia, visual and hearing impaired.

The Key Stage 3 Strategy: resources and publications. DfES Standards website.

Languages count: the Welsh Assembly Government’s national modern foreign languages strategy. Welsh Assembly Government, 2002. ISBN: 0 7504 2883 X.

Languages ICT. CILT and ALL website.

Modern foreign languages environment. Learning and Teaching Scotland website.

Official documentation. NACELL website. Key Stage 2

Northern Ireland Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research. NICILT website. For enquiries about MFL curriculum in Northern Ireland.

Policy documents. Scottish CILT website.

Qualifications for schools and colleges. DfES website.

Respect for all: valuing diversity and challenging racism through the curriculum. QCA website. MFL case studies (Key Stages 3 and 4) can also be viewed.

Whats on in schools. DfES Languages website.