Industry News
Language "gulf" between state and private
Posted on 15th November 2007
When it comes to encouraging the study of foreign languages, there is a "gulf in practice" between specialist, grammar and independent schools and others, a new report has revealed.
Information released by CiLT, the National Centre for Languages, has shown that more than half of secondary schools now have fewer than 50 per cent of their pupils studying a language as far as Key Stage 4.
Duncan Byrne, chairman of the Independent Schools' Modern Languages Association, said: "There is a divide between the linguistic haves and have-nots which will get wider unless school leaders take action to support their language departments."
The report showed that within the private sector, studying languages at Key Stage 4 is the "norm".
It also found independent schools tend to offer a greater choice of languages for pupils to study.
Earlier this week, schools minister Lord Adonis announced £4 million of funding would be used to fund partnerships between independent and state schools to help gifted pupils in areas such as maths, science and modern foreign languages.
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