§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 6 May 2003,Official Report, column 644W, on modern languages courses, which modern languages he is requiring all maintained secondary schools to continue to make available. [122049]
§ Mr. MilibandThrough our Green Paper "14–19: extending opportunities, raising standards" we consulted extensively on our proposals to create more choice and flexibility at Key Stage 4. The responses to 437W the consultation endorsed our view that schools should no longer be required to teach modern foreign languages to all pupils but that schools should be required to ensure that any pupil wishing to study modern foreign languages should be able to do so. We propose that this entitlement should reflect the current situation in Key Stage 4, so that schools can meet the entitlement by providing access to courses that include the study of one or more of the official languages of the European Union.
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority are currently consulting on the detailed proposals for the implementation of curriculum changes at Key Stage 4.