New HEPI Report: A school league table for language provision

Language learning in England is in steep decline – but a small number of schools are bucking the trend. New analysis shines a spotlight on the institutions that continue to prioritise modern languages, while warning that recent policy changes risk accelerating the erosion of language provision across the country.

Drawing on official Department for Education data, HEPI’s new league table ranks English schools by the extent of their Modern Language GCSE provision. The findings reveal that only around 5% of secondary schools enter, on average, at least one Modern Language GCSE per Year 11 pupil, while the vast majority offer far less language learning. The report also highlights the remarkable performance of a diverse group of schools -including Islamic faith schools, language specialists and selective grammar schools – that have maintained a strong commitment to languages despite wider national trends.

Alongside celebrating these success stories, the analysis paints a concerning picture of the future. Since languages ceased to be compulsory at Key Stage 4 in 2004, Modern Language GCSE entries have fallen dramatically, contributing to growing difficulties for universities recruiting language students and an increasing number of course closures.

Click here to discover all the details and download the accompanying data.