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Written question asked by Callum Anderson (Labour) on Friday, 28 August 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 2 September 2026. It was answered by Georgia Gould (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 September 2026 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Languages: Buckinghamshire

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the long-term sustainability of modern foreign language provision in schools located in (i) Buckinghamshire and (ii) Milton Keynes.

Answer

The department is committed to supporting the teaching of modern foreign languages in England’s schools, including in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. The study of languages is compulsory under the national curriculum at key stages 2 and 3 for all maintained schools, and will become compulsory in academies. Following the Curriculum and Assessment Review, we are also updating the key stage 2 languages programme of study to standardise expectations and improve primary to secondary school languages transition.

The key factor in encouraging students to continue studying languages beyond key stage 3 is high-quality teaching. To support this, the government funds the National Consortium for Languages Education, which provides language support for schools and online professional development for teachers across the country.

The department is also offering a £20,000 tax-free bursary for trainee language teachers starting courses in 2026, or a £22,000 tax-free scholarship for those training to teach French, German, or Spanish. In addition, Oak National Academy has developed modern foreign languages resources for key stages 2 to 4, helping teachers deliver high-quality lessons while reducing planning time.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
24410
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Education Languages Buckinghamshire
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk