Foreign Languages

Miss Kirkbride
17.  To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils took at least one (a) GCSE and (b) A-level in a modern language in the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight
Between 2003 and 2006 the number of A Level entries in French, German and Spanish decreased slightly, from 23,476 to 22,926. The number Increased to 23,306 in 2007.

Between 2003 and 2007 the number of GCSE entries in modern foreign languages decreased from 453,900 to 301,400.

Simon Hughes
To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many primary schools in England teach a modern foreign language.

Jim Knight
Research carried out in 2006 found that 70 per cent. of primary schools are teaching languages. This is up from 44 per cent. in 2003.