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<p>The department notes the British Council Language Trends 2019 Survey and wants
to see more pupils take languages at GCSE and experience international opportunities,
including those from disadvantaged backgrounds. We have included languages as a pillar
within the English Baccalaureate school performance measure to address the sharp fall
in take up following the decision to make the subject non-compulsory at key stage
4 in 2004. This has seen the proportion of pupils who take languages GCSE increase
from 40% in 2010 to 46% last year, and we want to see these numbers increase.</p><p>
</p><p>In the department’s £4.8 million Modern Foreign Language (MFL) Pedagogy pilot
programme, one of the 9 lead schools is in an Opportunity Area and another is in the
Opportunity North East area. We have launched a pilot project in MFL undergraduate
mentoring for secondary school pupils. This project specifically targets areas of
high disadvantage to extend access to languages for all pupils and focuses on areas
of low uptake. We are also piloting a financial incentive to improve the retention
of MFL teachers in 25 local authorities that are most in need.</p><p> </p><p>In partnership
with the British Council, the department is offering thousands of young people the
chance to take part in international exchanges and visits. Backed by £2.5 million,
schools in England can apply for grants to take pupils aged 11 and above to visit
partner schools around the world. The programme is principally focused on those from
disadvantaged backgrounds and we want to encourage as many schools as possible to
sign up for this opportunity.</p>
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