Teachers steer bright pupils away from tough subjects to hit targets

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Schools are said to be pushing youngsters away from traditional subjects, such as languages, to boost their position in Government league tables.

At the same time, leading universities are increasingly stipulating that pupils sit GCSEs and A-levels in academic disciplines to be considered for places.

The Government's watchdog for ensuring "fair access" to universities, Sir Martin Harris, said that some students, mainly in the inner cities, were forced to follow an "impoverished" curriculum, blighting their prospects.

Figures obtained by the Tories show just 18 per cent of state schools require all GCSE pupils to study at least one language - down from 25 per cent last year and 57 per cent in 2003.

University College London is to make a modern language GCSE a compulsory requirement while Cambridge already requires applicants to hold a GCSE or A-level qualification in "a language other than English and an approved mathematical or scientific subject".

Ministers have said new-look tables will expose schools which neglect the three Rs and sciences. From 2008, this will include languages.

Sir Martin, director of the Office for Fair Access, said some schools simply did not give youngsters the option of studying some vital subjects.