Written question asked by Lord Brady of Altrincham (Conservative) on Thursday, 18 March 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 23 March 2004. It was answered by Stephen Twigg (Labour) on Tuesday, 23 March 2004 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Dept for Education and Skills

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many pupils in maintained schools he estimates were studying one or more modern foreign languages at key stage two in each of the last five years. - Inc figure.

Answer: Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils in maintained schools he estimates were studying one or more modern foreign languages at key stage two in each of the last five years. [163133] Mr. Stephen Twigg: A 2001 study by QCA and the University of Warwick of modern foreign languages in the primary curriculum suggested that one in five primary schools were offering some form of language provision. The Department is currently reviewing this figure, and the number of primary pupils engaged in languages through further research, the findings of which will be available in late spring.

Secondary information