Dearing Review into Languages

News summary

In September 2006, the Secretary of State asked Lord Dearing to advise him on how a recovery from the falling take-up of Languages at Key Stage 4 might be achieved. The interim consultation and final report have now been published.

The Languages Review final report

Lord Dearing's final report, 12 March 2007
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20070402090648/http://teachernet.gov.uk/teachingandlearning/subjects/languages/languagesreview/

Letters to Vice-Chancellors

Lord Dearing is very keen that current year 9 pupils choosing options for Key Stage 4 be encouraged to continue with language study. With this in mind, the Vice-Chancellors of all HEIs in England have been sent two letters (see links below) and copies of the 'Why Study Languages?' and the Languages Work materials.

You may wish to ask your Vice-Chancellor about these materials and consider how you might wish to work with neighbouring institutions as suggested in the letter.

Further reading

LLAS news blog
http://llasnews.blogspot.com

Mixed report for bilingual school, 14 Dec 2006
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6175677.stm

Teach languages, primaries urged, 14 Dec 2006
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6177389.stm

BBC News: Languages made a degree requirement by UCL, 13 Dec 2006
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6173219.stm

The Independent leading article: Time to end our insular outlook, 11 Dec 2006
http://comment.independent.co.uk/leading_articles/article2064700.ece

The Independent: Return of compulsory French and German lessons set to be rejected, 11 Dec 2006
http://education.independent.co.uk/news/article2064703.ece

BBC News: Languages 'should be compulsory', 4 Dec 2006
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6205914.stm

BBC News: Review of school language lessons, 12 Oct 2006
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6043990.stm

DfES press release: Johnson asks Lord Dearing to carry out languages review, 12 Oct 2006
www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2006_0144

News