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MAJOR INVESTMENT FOR FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING - KELLY
11 March 2005The prospect of every primary school child learning another language such as French, Spanish, or German moved a step closer today as Education Secretary Ruth Kelly announced a £115 million boost to support language learning and teaching over the next three years. The investment will ensure that by 2010, 6,000 new primary teachers will have been trained with a languages specialism. In addition 18,000 existing primary teachers and 9,000 teaching assistants will have been given access to training to deliver language learning programmes. The investment will also fund an increase in the number of schools that specialise in languages and provide them with extra resources to deliver high quality language provision for pupils both in their own schools and neighbouring primary and secondary schools. Through its National Languages Strategy, the Government has already made a commitment that by 2010 every child aged 7-11 will be given the opportunity to learn a language at primary school. Also by 2010, it is hoped that 400 specialist language schools will be working with other local schools to support language learning programmes.Ruth Kelly said:“Languages are vital for children in today’s world. They open doors to new experiences, increase employment opportunities and break down cultural barriers. They also boost community cohesion and our economy’s competitiveness.“This investment will fund a major increase in language teachers to ensure that every child aged 7-11 will have the opportunity to study another language and develop their interest in the culture of other nations. This is crucial if more young people are to continue studying languages at secondary school level and beyond.” The funding will provide:• £60m to fund trainees to follow a primary teacher training course which also develops their language skills, and provide access to training for language skills to 18,000 existing primary teachers and 9,000 teaching assistants;
• £30m to increase the number of specialist language schools and extend their role. Each existing and new specialist language school, and schools wishing to take a second specialism in languages, will receive an additional £30,000 per year in specialist grant, enabling them to work with local education authorities, universities and regional partners to promote language learning - in particular in primary schools and among 14-16 year olds;
• £14m to support new approaches to teaching and learning languages, such as the development of GCSE courses in business languages;
• £6m to fund initiatives in support of the National Languages Strategy including encouraging international links, and carrying out research;
• £5m to develop the Languages Ladder, a national recognition scheme allowing all learners to have their achievements in a wide range of languages recognised and celebrated.The Government is committed to increasing the take up of languages at all levels of education. Already 44% of primary schools offer some form of language learning, such as in lunchtime classes, compared to 20% in 2001. This year 15,000 more pupils obtained a good GCSE (A*-C) in a modern foreign language than in 1997. The Modern Foreign Language Strategy will build on this and increase the range of language learning opportunities for all children.
Editor's Notes
This press notice relates to 'England'
1. Since the Modern Foreign Language Strategy was launched in 2002, £22m has been invested in language learning and teaching. Local education authorities were recently granted £5million to support the co-ordination of primary languages from 2005-06. 2. Over 1,200 new primary teachers have already been trained with an additional specialism in language teaching, over 700 existing primary teachers have been trained in language skills, and a training course has been developed for teaching assistants. By 2010 6,000 new primary teachers will have been funded to follow a teacher training course which also develops their language skills; 18,000 existing primary teachers and 9,000 teaching assistants will also have been given access to training to deliver language learning programmes. 3. The announcement is accompanied by the publication of a leaflet summarising progress on the National Languages Strategy and outlining the way forward. A Boost for Modern Foreign Languages can be downloaded at http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/languages
Contact Details
Public Enquiries 0870 000 2288, info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
Press Notice 2005/0034
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