The survey was carried out during the autumn term of 2010 by CILT, the National Centre for Languages with support from the Association for Language Learning and the Independent Schools’ Modern Language Association.

It is based on responses to a questionnaire sent to a representative sample of 2,000 secondary schools in England (1,500 maintained schools and 500 independent schools).

The survey has been carried out annually since 2002 to track developments in language provision and take-up in secondary schools. (Please use the left-hand menu to access earlier surveys with secondary schools.)

The findings are based on a response rate of 36% from 711 schools.

Key findings:

• There is a continuing downward trend in numbers studying languages in KS4, also in evidence post 16. 36% of maintained schools reported more than 50% of pupils studying a language in Year 10 and this is down by 5% on last year. Our figures also show that the number of schools in the top band for participation, where more than 75% of pupils study a language, has dropped from 26% to 21%.
• Recruitment to language courses post 16 appears to be very fragile, contrary to some positive signs seen in last year’s survey, with more schools reporting a decline than an increase in numbers in both maintained and independent sectors.
• Around 45% of maintained schools now offer alternative accreditation to GCSE and A level - down slightly on the previous year - and fewer are considering this as a future option. However, feedback from schools involved in offering alternatives is very positive, albeit tempered by concerns about the future viability of these qualifications if they do not count towards the English Baccalaureate.
• Teachers took the opportunity to express what appears to be universal concern with the recent changes to the GCSE assessment regime.
• The development of primary languages is starting to have an impact in secondary schools. Four out of five secondary schools are now receiving significant numbers of pupils who have studied a language in Key Stage 2, and the vast majority have taken at least some measures to cater for this.
• An increasing number of maintained schools (one in five compared to 14% last year) have shortened KS3 to two years. This represents a significant reduction in the amount of time spent on languages for those pupils who do not take the subject to GCSE.
• Teachers are excited that the English Baccalaureate may provide the impetus for changes they would like to see but worried about the challenges they will face in rebuilding provisionfocus on languages.

• Final report (pdf, 518kb)
• Full statistical report (pdf, 479kb)
• Press release (pdf, 83kb)

This is an online survey. Click here (pdf, 534kb) to read the questions.

Regional reports

• North East (pdf, 191kb)
• Yorkshire and the Humber (pdf, 191kb)
• North West (pdf, 186kb)
• East (pdf, 170kb)
• London (pdf, 173kb)
• East Midlands (pdf, 151kb)
• West Midlands (pdf, 186kb)
• South East (pdf, 186kb)
• South West (pdf, 190kb)