Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support language learning in schools.

The government recognises the value of language learning and is committed to supporting modern foreign languages throughout schools and across the languages pipeline. In our response to the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, we committed to working with the sector to identify successful approaches, including effective local models.

This work will begin in primary schools through curriculum reform and will seek to increase take-up at GCSE and demand at A level and degree level, helping to meet the country’s future social and economic needs. We will support teachers to implement curriculum changes through continued investment in the National Consortium for Languages Education, which provides high-quality professional development and comprehensive support for language teachers across the country.

The UK will also join Erasmus+ in 2027, opening up world class opportunities for pupils, teachers and other school staff across the UK. With Erasmus+, schools will be able to access funding for visits to partner schools abroad. These trips have a profound impact on children, raising their aspirations and opening their minds to different cultures.