It was Labour’s decision in 2004 to make languages at key stage 4 non-compulsory that led to the dramatic drop in the numbers taking GCSE foreign languages. Thanks to our introduction of the EBacc, the percentage of pupils in state-funded schools taking a language GCSE has increased, from 40% in 2010 to 46% now. Our target is 75% studying a foreign language GCSE by 2022 and 90% by 2025.

I agree with my right hon. Friend completely. As we enter a new global economy, we want to be able to trade with our European partners and need to speak European languages, as well as languages throughout the world, which is why we believe in the EBacc. I wish the Labour party would support our ambition to have 75% of students taking the EBacc combination of GCSEs by 2022.

This Government recognises the importance of quality language teaching at primary and secondary school. Ofsted are responsible for inspecting maintained schools and academies, including language provision.

The Department has made languages compulsory at Key Stage 2. Modern foreign languages (MFLs) are compulsory at Key Stage 3, giving pupils skills and knowledge and broadening their horizons. At Key Stage 4, languages are an essential part of the EBacc combination of core academic subjects. The proportion of pupils studying languages has risen from 40% in 2010 to 46% in 2018. Ofsted plans to conduct research into languages at secondary schools and is due to report on this in 2019-20.

In 2016, Her Majesty’s former Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, reported that the majority of primary-age pupils in schools visited enjoyed having the chance to learn a foreign language. The report did however note concerns including a lack of allocated time to study languages. The Department is developing greater expertise in secondary school provision of languages, and will use this to encourage improvements in primary provision. Sir Michael’s comments can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/hmcis-monthly-commentary-may-2016.

The Department is developing a number of initiatives to encourage improved languages provision in schools including an MFL Pedagogy Hub pilot programme, a Mandarin Excellence Programme, and a package of financial incentives to attract the best candidates into MFL teaching.

The Government offers financial incentives, including scholarships and tax-free bursaries, for trainee teachers. These are typically worth up to £26,000 for trainees in priority subjects, including modern foreign languages (MFL). The Department has also developed a number of measures to encourage more MFL specialists into initial teacher training (ITT). These include targeted marketing campaigns, providing support to potential ITT applicants across priority subjects to increase the proportion of successful applications; and providing seed funding to higher education institutions to develop an offer for languages degree students to opt-in to complete qualified teacher status alongside their undergraduate degree.

The Department has developed programmes including the ‘Teacher Subject Specialism Training’ (TSST), to attract existing teachers into MFL. TSST aims to enhance the MFL expertise of current teachers and provide more targeted support to help returning teachers and career changers into the profession.

The Department is creating expert hubs for languages that will share best practice in pedagogy among schools. These hubs will improve access to high quality, modern MFL teaching. Further details will be announced in due course.

Increasing the number of skilled language speakers in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is a priority for the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague). Work is under way to raise the standards of staff language skills significantly.

We are:

lengthening training programmes in key languages such as Arabic and Mandarin and increasing the number of speakers of these. Once trained speakers are in place, we will have 40% more speakers of Arabic and Mandarin in our posts overseas than in 2010;

increasing the number of jobs overseas for which language skills will be a requirement;

ensuring our training supports the influencing and negotiation skills required for effective diplomacy;

providing lunchtime and after-work classes, and e-learning resources in key languages to ensure that speakers can develop and maintain skills while on home postings;

and

developing cadres of language expertise to support British foreign policy over the long-term.

As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs announced in a speech at the FCO in September 2011, this Government has also committed to re-open a language centre in the Foreign Office. We expect to open the language centre in summer 2013. The new centre will be able to accommodate up to 1,000 students a year, including from other Government Departments. This will allow us, for the first time, to accommodate all of our students on-site, including the many FCO staff who study languages part-time.

[holding answer 10 December 2012]: We believe that an early start to language teaching will inspire pupils with a love of languages, improve their literacy and cognitive skills and benefit their education in secondary school. We have therefore confirmed, subject to parliamentary approval, our decision that teaching a foreign language at key stage 2 will be a statutory requirement in all maintained schools from September 2014.