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Pupils say 'non' to languages because it's too hard to get an A*
Anna Davis, Education Correspondent27 Jan 2012
Students are being put off studying languages because it is too difficult to get the top grade, teachers warned today.
The brightest schoolchildren are turning away from French and German because they fear it will be virtually impossible to score an A* in GCSE or A-level, a group of independent and state school teachers said.
Teachers from more than 100 schools will today send a letter to exam boards and Ofqual demanding an explanation of how tests are marked.
They said students are more likely to get an A* in "hard" subjects such as maths, physics and chemistry than in language exams.
Dr Helen Wright, head of St Mary's School in Calne, Wiltshire, who is representing the group, said: "This is absolutely not about dumbing down standards. It is about making sure there is a level playing field.
"Getting an A* in each subject should be equal. We want people to enjoy languages and we want to make it possible for people to reach the highest levels in a language.
But fewer people are studying them because of the message that it is more difficult to get an A*. We risk sidelining modern foreign languages in the same way as classical languages have been."
The teachers argue that students taking "difficult" subjects such as languages, maths and science, are often high achievers, so score a high proportion of A grades. But language students are much less likely to be given the top grade of A*, they said.
Only 7.7 per cent of French A-level students were given an A* last year while 32 per cent were given an A.
But in maths the spread between grades was more equal, with 27 per cent scoring an A, and 18 per cent given an A*. In physics 23 per cent of students scored an A, and 10 per cent an A*.
The teachers said the grading of oral exams was far too unpredictable, with examiners marking down top performers because their speech sounds too rehearsed.
Dr Wright said: "We have to prove that it is not impossible to do well in languages."
The open letter is signed by representatives from groups including the Independent Schools' Modern Languages Association and the London Branch of the Association for Language Learning, which represent both private and state schools.
Reader views (9)
The reluctance of the British in general to learn foreign languages is the reason for our failure to sell abroad and develop new markets and why Germany does so well. Even if the person to whom you are selling speaks English as a second language the ability to sell to them in their native language is a decisive factor in the probability of success. It is time that legislation was introduced making foreign language skills a prerequisite to entering professions and to appointment as directors and senior management of companies.
- Ian, London - UK, 01/02/2012 12:56
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In Germany some schools have two languages as mandatory subjects. Certainly one language should be mandatory in England.
- Ralph, London, England, 01/02/2012 12:28
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So 39.7% of A Level students now receive an A/A* in French. The A grade used to be awarded to the top 10%. Up to the mid 90s, some of those people would have been awarded a D grade.
A-top 10% B-next 15% C-next 10% D-next 15% E-final 20% O (Ordinary Level) 20% Fail – 10%
Get rid of the ridiculous A* grade. It was only brought in because the exams are so easy that too many students receive A grades.
- Squidia, London, 31/01/2012 17:22
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I agree we should be doing languages but if you need 3 As for a university course its no use getting 2 As and a B or a C. Thats the problem.
- Jack Spratt, Richmond, Surrey, 31/01/2012 12:14
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I am amazed that Jack Spratt would advise students to vere (sic) away from languages when our exports are suffering as a result of our poor skills in this area. As for everyone speaking English, John, by 2050 below 5% of the world's population will be native English speakers. In any case, the idea that everyone speaks English is fine if we are buying from foreign countries (something we are very good at), but if you want to sell to them an ability to speak the language is absolutely vital. The sad reality is that even if English does stay the dominant world language, which is not guaranteed, you don't need to be a native speaker to use it for your own advantages in business. The real deal is being able to master a number of languages so that you can sell to anyone. It's such a shame that we are so introspective here.
- Grendel's Brother, London UK, 30/01/2012 16:43
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SACRE BLEU !!!!!!
- AFC WALLYS, London, 29/01/2012 10:32
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Doesn't really matter at the end of the day as everyone speaks English.
- John Buckeridge, London, 27/01/2012 16:21
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Getting A* in a decent subject is the priority so I would advise students to vere away from languages but then few can excel in maths and sciences so its not an easy switch. I feel sorry for those that have chosen to do the IB as its much more work and more difficult to get equivalent marks to A* at A level. Rumour has it that there was a student who got a top 45 points for IB last year who studied at ACS Cobham
- Jack Spratt, Richmond, Surrey, 27/01/2012 14:18
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It is disheartening to all those involved in education to hear of an increasing turn away from languages by young people. According to official statistics, numbers of schools where more than 50 per cent of pupils study a language dropped from 76 per cent in 2000, to just 38 per cent in 2011. Yet, this is happening at a time when it is increasingly apparent that it’s in this country’s interest to ensure that our young people are competent in at least one foreign language. It is not only about learning a set of vocabulary; you also gain an understanding and appreciation of different cultures and ways of life which are crucial if we want to be part of a global society and the international job market. Using and understanding another language enables us to establish meaningful social and professional relationships with others from different countries and cultures. Young people need to be made aware that learning a language, regardless of the level they advance to, is hugely beneficial for their personal growth and also gives them a competitive edge in employment. For schools, it is about making what appears a hard choice more appealing, accessible and fun! Using technology such as the internet can help them access resources that motivates them to learn and can bring languages and cultures from around the world to life. If we can help young people become engaged and enjoy languages, we might just see a reversal of this trend.
Justin Sycamore, managing director, Vocab Express
- Justin Sycamore, Exeter, 27/01/2012 11:44
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