Written question asked by John Cummings (Labour) on Tuesday, 10 October 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 12 October 2006. It was answered by Lord Knight of Weymouth (Labour) on Monday, 30 October 2006 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Foreign Languages

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which foreign languages are taught at each school in Easington constituency.

Answer: The Department does not collect such information and can not therefore give information specific to Easington. All primary schools are able to offer language learning programmes for which they have access to expertise.At Key Stage 3, language learning is compulsory. Schools must first offer language courses in one or more of the official working languages of the European Union. Once this offer has been made schools can offer courses in any other modern foreign language.At Key Stage 4, where compulsion was replaced by a statutory entitlement in September 2004, schools must provide access to at least one course in an official working language of the European Union. Schools may in addition offer courses in any other modern foreign language that lead to approved qualifications.

Secondary information