Written question asked by David Laws (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 23 October 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 25 October 2007. It was answered by Lord Knight of Weymouth (Labour) on Monday, 29 October 2007 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Languages: Curriculum

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of children were taught a modern foreign language in (a) year 2, (b) year 6, (c) year 9 and (d) year 11 in maintained schools in England in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: We have not collected any data on language learning in year 2, as there is no requirement for schools to teach modern foreign language in Key Stage 1. Research published by the National Foundation for Educational Research in June 2007 found that 70 per cent. of primary schools are teaching a foreign language in class time in Key Stage 2. We do not have accurate data that breaks this down into individual year groups so cannot provide a figure for year 6 pupils.Languages are compulsory at Key Stage 3 so all pupils in year 9 should be taught a modern foreign language. We do not know the exact proportion of pupils who were taught a language at Key Stage 4. 46 per cent. of all pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 took a GCSE in a modern foreign language in 2007, but a few of these pupils may not have been taught, and some may have been taught but decided not the take the exam.

Secondary information