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Language Trends 2005 - Key Stage 4

 

This year's survey, carried out by CILT, the National Centre for Languages, with support from the Association for Language Learning and the Independent Schools, Modern Languages Association, is based on responses to a questionnaire sent to a representative random sample of 2,000 secondary schools in England (1,577 maintained and 423 independent schools).

Key findings

  • The proportion of maintained schools with languages as a compulsory element in the KS4 curriculum has further declined: from one-third in 2004 to one-quarter this year.
  • Decreases in pupil numbers have been most strongly felt in French and German, however, Spanish take-up is increasing. While fewer schools offer Italian and Russian, they frequently report increases in pupil numbers.
  • The situation in independent schools remains relatively stable.

The preliminary findings are based on a 60% response achieved from 1,190 schools to date.