Basic Documentation on English and UK Policy
This page contains links to official documentation on languages, or language related policy issues.
The National Languages Strategy for England
Published in December 2002, Languages for All; Languages for Life A Strategy for England, sets out the Government's 8 year plan to transform the nation's language capability. The core objectives are to improve learning and teaching, introduce a national recognition scheme and increase the numbers of language learners. The cornerstone of the strategy is the introduction of an entitlement for all pupils ages 7-11 to learn a language by 2010. As well as the Strategy itself a number of associated documents are also available.
The Languages Review
In the autumn of 2006, Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Education and Skills asked Lord Dearing to work with Lid King, National Director for Languages in order to review the Government's language policy. In particular he was asked to consider the reduction in numbers taking languages to GCSE and to make proposals to increase take up among this age group (14-16). In the event the Review was a comprehensive consultation and analysis of languages education and made a broad set of proposals for reform, including a key proposal to make primary languages statutory. The review was welcomed by the Government and its main proposals are now being implemented. Associated with the review there is also a consultation document and Ministerial responses which can be accessed on Teachernet.
Citizens of a Multilingual World (Scotland)
England was not the first part of the UK to develop a languages strategy. In Scotland in the year 2000 a Ministerial Action Group produced a comprehensive report and set of proposals for responding to the challenges and opportunities of Multilingualism. Although not all of the proposals were implemented by the Scottish Government, this set an agenda which has been regularly updated.
Languages Count (Wales)
In April 2002 the Welsh Assembly Government published a languages strategy for Wales - Languages Count. This wide reaching document sets out a vision for the importance of languages if Wales is to play its part on the world stage. It aims in particular to improve both take-up and standards post 14, to increase recognition by schools, pupils, parents and employers of the importance of foreign language skills and to ensure that language learning is linked to the learning of English and Welsh and increases intercultural understanding among learners. In 2009 Languages Count was updated in a new set of proposals and consultation - Making languages count.
The International Strategy
In 2004 the DfES (now DCSF) published an International Strategy, which also had the support of the administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Its main goals are -
- equipping children, young people and adults for life in a global society and work in a global economy
- engaging with international partners to achieve (shared) goals
- maximising the continuation of our education and training sector and university research...
There are important synergies between the International Strategy and The National Language Strategies. There have also been some
developments of the international strategy since 2004.
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