The Linguist

WINTER 2025 The Linguist 7 Chartered Institute of Linguists NEWS & EDITORIAL In the media PHILIP HARDING-ESCH This summer, GCSE and A level results gave mixed news for languages. Although entries were still low, the issue of harsh grading was partially addressed. The Standard reported on Cambridge University findings that students from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to attend schools where language GCSEs are not a core subject. This tracks with longstanding Language Trends data highlighting serious disparities along socio-economic lines. The Daily Mail covered the emerging phenomenon of 'language deserts' affecting sixth form colleges: an estimated one in three students is unable to take a language A level due to lack of provision. The effect on higher education was evident as the BBC covered plans for the universities of Nottingham and Leicester to cut their language provision. These concerns, along with the recent Curriculum and Assessment Review, led to several thinkpieces on the reasons why so few young Britons study languages – blaming everything from excessive screen time (The Spectator) to the rise of Google Translate (Financial Times). Commentary on the Curriculum and Assessment Review was varied. Many commentators, especially in The Times, echoed concerns that scrapping the Ebacc schools performance measure – which included the expectation pupils would study a language to GCSE – would lead to a further decline. This included former Schools Minister Nick Gibb, who backed the Ebacc in The Telegraph using the impact on languages as his primary defence. The BBC ran an interesting article about the lived reality for multilingual Britons, including a young man's experiences of trying to communicate with his extended Afghan family on video calls; and the importance of Saturday Schools for bilingual students – a welcome, nuanced look at the rich linguistic diversity we can be proud of in modern British society. Philip Harding-Esch is a freelance languages project manager and consultant. Professor Wendy Ayres-Bennett presented a policy paper, 'Languages and the Government's Missions', developed in collaboration with Charles Forsdick, the British Academy's Lead Fellow for Languages. It sets out the key ways in which language capability, and language policy, support the government's missions. The APPG also co-hosted a special event in Parliament with the APPG on Europe. Coordinated by the EU Delegation to the UK, it marked this year's European Day of Languages. All MPs were invited, along with key stakeholders from across the languages sector, to debate the importance of languages as the UK and European Union work towards a relationship 'reset'. Speakers included the ambassadors of the EU, France and Spain. The cross-party group has been busy with a range of issues, from how education reform will impact languages to a relationship 'reset' with the EU The All-Party Group (APPG) on Modern Languages has been particularly focused on the Curriculum and Assessment Review (CAR), which published its final report in November. Understandably, the entire languages sector has been very anxious about the implications of the CAR's recommendations. The current uptake of languages at GCSE has stalled at about 50%, while A level and undergraduate numbers are falling, with university language departments feeling the pressure. In October, the APPG held a meeting to review several new pieces of research to help inform its policy responses to the CAR, which was commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE). Among the presentations was a talk by Lynton Lees, Senior Policy Adviser at the British Academy, mapping SHAPE (social sciences, humanities and arts) 'cold spots' in UK higher education. These reveal increasingly unequal provision across the country, including in languages. Ralph Rogers from the British Council spoke about a significant new report, 'Building UK-China Capability through Education', which analyses the extent to which the UK's education system supports its capability to engage strategically with China. Inside Parliament Philip Harding-Esch works on behalf of CIOL to provide the secretariat to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Modern Languages. TL INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Commons debate on UK-China economic ties ©HOUSE OF COMMONS

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