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<p>We are improving the teaching of foreign languages through our £4.8 million MFL
Pedagogy Pilot, which commenced in December 2018. It is managed by the newly appointed
MFL Centre for Excellence and is run through nine school-led hubs, to strengthen languages
teaching at key stages 3 and 4 and to improve take up and attainment in the subject.</p><p>Recruiting
and retaining excellent languages teachers is also a priority for this government.
This is why we are offering tax-free bursaries of £26,000 for languages trainees with
a 2:2 degree or higher starting their teacher training in 2020/21. Languages teachers
will also receive three early-career payments totalling £6,000 spread across years
2, 3 and 4 of teaching. Those teaching languages in 39 local authority areas we have
identified as having high need for teachers will receive higher payments totalling
£9,000.</p><p>The department is also offering prestigious scholarships to those starting
their teacher training in 2020/21 in languages. These scholarships are delivered in
partnership with the British Council and successful scholars will receive a tax-free
bursary of £28,000, as well as the same early-career payments as those who receive
a bursary. All successful scholars will also receive a package of support provided
by the professional bodies including free membership, resources and early career support.</p><p>These
targeted initiatives form part of our wider strategy to recruit and retain teachers.
The impact of commitments in the strategy - such as the Early Career Framework and
plans to raise starting salaries to £30,000 by 2022/23 - will be felt by teachers
of all subjects, including languages.</p><p>In terms of wider support for languages
study, the English Baccalaureate performance measure, which includes languages, has
seen the proportion of GCSE entries from pupils in state-funded schools in a modern
foreign language (MFL) increase from 40% in 2010 to 47% in 2019. The reformed national
curriculum now makes it compulsory for pupils in maintained schools to be taught a
foreign language in key stage 2.</p>
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