How will the Minister ensure that languages, including German and Spanish, are not written out of the curriculum in state secondary schools in Wales?
The Curriculum for Wales provides exciting opportunities for language learning: modern foreign languages (MFL) are now mandatory in primary as well as secondary learning. Learners will need to demonstrate progression in an international language as they transition into secondary schools; international languages remain within the Curriculum for Wales guidance until 16.
The decision about which languages are offered rests with individual schools. However, in planning their curriculum schools will not be able to support learners to develop towards the four purposes of the curriculum without offering opportunities for all learners to progress in their language learning.
The Welsh Government’s Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Priority Subject Incentive Scheme awards £15,000 for those undertaking secondary subject specialisms most needed in the teaching workforce this includes MFL subjects. In addition, our Iaith Athrawon Yfory awards £5,000 for those studying to teach secondary subjects, including MFL, through the medium of Welsh.
The Welsh Government also provides direct support to primary teachers via the Open University Teachers Learning to Teach languages (TELT) programme which upskills teachers in both primary languages pedagogy and the teaching of either French, German, Spanish or Mandarin in the primary setting. These incentives represent an important part of the work we are doing to support those already training and attract more language applicants into the teaching profession.
The Global Futures programme has successfully overseen the expansion of the teaching of languages in schools in Wales. I announced the publication of a Global Futures strategy covering the period 2022 to 2025 in a Ministerial statement in November.
I have agreed further funding for the programme to demonstrate our commitment to expanding language learning in Wales. Working alongside our partners, who include Estyn, The British Council, regional education consortia and language Institutes, I am committed to continuing this support.