§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her policy regarding the level of modern language teaching and the number of foreign language courses offered under the comprehensive system as compared with the previous grammar school system; and what steps can be taken to ensure that the number of language options offered is not less than those obtaining in former grammar schools which have been reorganised on comprehensive lines.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonResponsibility for the provision of modern language courses in schools lies with local education authorities and with the schools themselves. Many more children are given the opportunity to study a modern language under the comprehensive system than were under a selective system of secondary education, although a recently published discussion paper, Modern Languages in Comprehensive Schools, written by Her Majesty's Inspectorate on the basis of a survey of 83 comprehensive schools, indicates some weaknesses in the teaching of modern languages. Such weaknesses are not peculiar to comprehensive schools. I hope that its findings 303W and recommendations will encourage those concerned with language teaching to consider how improvements may be made within the resources currently available.