The survey was carried out in September and October 2008 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
Secondary surveys.)
Key findings:
- The decline in participation in language learning in Key Stage
4 has been halted, although there is little sign yet of any overall
increase in numbers.
- However, the picture nationally is one of change and transition
in language teaching with much innovation and new practice as
schools attempt to revitalise provision.
- There are serious barriers to rebuilding provision for a
significant minority of schools – particularly those with high
levels of social disadvantage and low educational achievement.
- There are growing regional differences in participation rates
in languages with the North East giving particular cause for
concern.
- Provision is becoming more diversified. Spanish, Italian and
Mandarin continue to rise in popularity, while French and German
are still falling though less steeply than before.
- There has been a strong growth in new qualifications. 41% of
schools now offer alternatives to GCSE as opposed to 22% in
2006.
- The opportunities for languages within the Phase 1 Diplomas are
not being fully exploited.
The findings are based on a 43% response rate from 855
schools.
Regional analysis
Regional reports are available for the
9 English regions. Each summary pulls out the information from the
maintained schools that responded to the survey by region and also
provides key DCSF exam entry data by region and Local
Authority.
A total of 659 maintained schools responded to the survey out of
1500 selected (a 44% response rate).
Click on each region to download the
analysis: