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<p>The new national curriculum introduces the teaching of a foreign language to key
stage 2 (ages 7 to 11) from September 2014, which will increase the uptake of foreign
languages in both primary and, over time, secondary schools. By starting languages
earlier, pupils will have longer to develop their skills to a high level before continuing
with language learning in secondary school. The English Baccalaureate is already encouraging
more young people to take a language at GCSE level. Take up by key stage 4 pupils
in England of a modern foreign language increased by over 20% between 2012 and 2013.</p><p>The
Department for Education believes it is important to give teachers the flexibility
to decide how to teach. We expect schools to identify the support that they need to
prepare for the new curriculum, recognising that different schools will face different
challenges.</p><p>We are allocating £350,000 this year to fund training on the new
national curriculum for teachers of modern foreign languages in primary and secondary
schools. We have also allocated some £1.9m to teaching schools to lead curriculum
change across and within their teaching school alliances. 46 of the projects being
supported involve languages.</p><p>The independent Expert Group, chaired by a leading
primary headteacher, has published links to useful resources, which are hosted on
the website of the Association for Language Learning. This is specifically to support
the introduction of a compulsory foreign language at key stage 2. We are also making
extensive use of social networking, including using high profile headteachers and
others to raise the profile of the new curriculum, including for languages, through
podcasts, webchats and blogs.</p><p> </p>
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