Languages in the KS2 curriculum in September 2021

 

Yesterday saw the publication of the Language Trends 2021 report.  Its headlines have been widely reported in the press, for example in this article in The Guardian.

The report has found that:

• during the first lockdown (March-June 2020) language teaching was discontinued in 53% of primary schools
• during the most recent lockdown (January-March 2021) language teaching was suspended in 1 in 5 primary schools (20%) due to the pandemic, the impact being felt most acutely in more deprived areas.
• the pandemic exacerbated challenges that schools already experience with the delivery of languages

A year ago, last July, the DfE released guidance for schools preparing to welcome all their students back in September 2020.  Languages were included in the list of subjects that students in KS3 should be learning in Key Stage 3 as part of their broad and balanced curriculum, but there was no mention of languages on the list of subjects for Key Stage 2.  Following consternation among members of the primary languages community, Baroness Coussins, chair of the All Party Parlimentary Group on MFL, clarified the situation, stating in the House of Lords that schools were expected to continue with teaching a language in KS2.  It's concerning to see that in some schools languages have still fallen by the wayside.

Last week, on 2nd July, the DfE published Teaching a broad and balanced curriculum for education recovery.  It's heartening to see that this year languages are mentioned, and indeed have a whole section to themselves:

There is also this section, which makes it clear that children need to be present for all stages of the learning, as gaps in their knowledge will make it difficult for them to progress:

Many children are still withdrawn from languages lessons for interventions, often for English or Maths, and therefore miss the vital small steps of learning that will help them to make progress.  This makes it clear, I hope, that withdrawing children from languages is not ideal.  It's likely to have less of an impact on other subjects:

It's also worth noting that this guidance, although non-statutory, is for all maintained schools, academies and free schools.  It also states that schools should continue to teach a broad and balanced curriculum in all subjects.  Hopefully the teaching of primary languages will pick up again in the 2021-22 year.