Key findings from NCLE Parent Survey:
- 68% of parents in England agree learning a modern foreign language should be compulsory in secondary school.
- 70% of parents believe their child should have more access to international opportunities through their school.
- 69% of parents say their child understands the benefits of learning a second language.
- 49% of parents regret never learning a language other than English.
- Most parents (64%) would encourage their child to learn Spanish.
Two-thirds (68%) of parents in England believe learning a modern foreign language in secondary school should be compulsory, according to a new poll.
Parents are now being urged to recommend foreign language GCSEs to their children, emphasising the growing importance of multilingual and international skills. The survey questioned 2,500 parents with children in Year 6, 7 and 8 about their attitudes towards language education. It follows an increase in entries for French, Spanish, German and other GCSE languages since 2023.
The research was commissioned by the National Consortium for Languages Education (NCLE) which has established a network of lead hub schools across England which train partner schools to enhance language teaching standards. This autumn, NCLE will also launch a free professional development course for all language teachers in England.
Parents endorse compulsory language education, regret not learning themselves
68% of respondents agreed with the statement that learning a modern language other than English should be compulsory in secondary school, while 64% said the same for primary schools. The highest proportion of parents in this cohort were from Greater London, at 74%, though in all other regions of England* at least 65% of parents agreed. Additionally, 49% of respondents expressed regret for not learning another language themselves.
Language learning is compulsory in England across the 7-14 age range, but GCSE students have not been required to take a modern foreign language since 2004. British Council research last year found that while nearly half of UK pupils liked or loved learning languages, more than one in four said they did not plan on taking a foreign language at GCSE level or higher, largely because they did not see themselves using a second language in their future career.
This attitude is challenged by recent research from the University of Portsmouth which analysed job adverts targeted at graduates. It found hundreds of vacancies listed where an additional language was required, with German the most requested language.
Out of the “big three” languages in schools, German has seen the most dramatic decline despite its value to businesses and employers. Many parents recognise this and 26% selected it as the “most important” language for children to learn in schools.
More international engagement wanted in schools
70% of parents believed that children should have greater access to international opportunities through schools. Just over a third of respondents aged 25-34 (35%) felt they had received more opportunities such as exchanges and school trips than their children currently do.
There has been a steep decline in the amount of access young people have to international opportunities, while data also suggests a growing disparity in the opportunities offered to young people depending on the school they attend. The British Council’s most recent Language Trends survey found 36% of state schools in England lack partnerships with schools abroad and do not host language assistants, compared to just 6% of independent schools.
Spanish the most encouraged subject
Spanish topped the list of languages parents would most likely encourage their child to study, at 64%, following the trend of increasing uptake in the language at GCSE and A-Level. French followed at 55%, with German third at 22%.
Mandarin Chinese came in fourth when asked which language parents felt was most important for their child to learn. GCSE Mandarin entries have increased in recent years due to the expansion of the Mandarin Excellence Programme, an initiative delivered by the IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society on behalf of the Department for Education and in partnership with the British Council.
Bernardette Holmes MBE, Director of the NCLE, said: “Parents are clearly telling us they would like to see all students learning a language. This is great news. Parents understand the benefits of language learning including boosting cognitive performance, building confidence, improving social and communication skills, and broadening students' horizons. At NCLE we are urging all schools to improve the take up of the new GCSE.”
Vicky Gough, British Council School Adviser, said: "Modern foreign language education in schools is essential for developing international and intercultural skills. In our multilingual and multicultural society, every child should have the opportunity to learn a language, and our survey results clearly show parents recognise this. This year, we've seen encouraging increases in language uptake at GCSE and A-level. We need to build on this progress, and we are urging parents to encourage their children to pursue language studies.”
*The percentage of parents who agreed language education should be compulsory in secondary school based on region in England1:
Greater London: 74%
West Midlands: 70%
South West: 69%
North East: 68%
East of England: 67%
North West: 67%
Yorkshire and the Humber: 67%
East Midlands: 66%
South East: 65%