24 Aug 2025
Scarlett Sanders, a sixth form student at The Marlborough Science Academy, examines whether there’s a decline in pupil numbers for modern foreign languages (MFL) and what this means for the future…
Are students in St Albans aged 14 and above becoming increasingly disinterested in studying a foreign language at GCSE or A level? Whilst learning a foreign language is compulsory in primary schools, many children seem to be declining the option to continue their MFL studies through to A levels, with local secondary schools receiving low numbers of applicants for post-16 courses for languages such as French, Spanish and German.
The problem has apparently been raising concerns for some time. Speaking last year during a House of Lords debate on education standards, then-Bishop of St Albans The Rt Rev Alan Smith expressed his concerns surrounding this topic, urging the Government to address the “massive decline in the teaching of foreign languages”.
However, the issue is not just solely limited to the local area. The 2025 Language Trends England report found that 41 per cent of secondary schools across the country had just five or fewer Year 13 pupils studying a foreign language, and a not insubstantial proportion indicated having no post-16 foreign language-learners at all.
In the wider cultural context of ideological monolingualism within the UK, such news may not come as much of a surprise. However, the current lack of interest in language-learning is nonetheless alarming, for a variety of reasons. Languages programmes are reported to be underfunded, under threat, and at times at risk of being cut from the curriculm altogether, as the number of students looking to acquire MFL-related qualifications can in some cases be too low to justify running the accompanying courses.
Mary Morrissey, Spanish and French teacher at The Marlborough Science Academy, highlighted this as a particularly pressing issue. “We are constantly fighting against the tide in our quest to retain MFL students,” she said.
“There are many contributing factors. The languages A level course is difficult, particularly the Year 13 topics, and it is difficult to attain high examination results at A level due to the exam board mark schemes.
“Invariably students opt for subjects that require less work and input from them at A level and perceive languages as too much of a slog, but we try our utmost to raise the profile of MFL with residential trips, visiting speakers, theatre workshops etc.”
Clare Suttie of St Albans-based Atlas Translations said she had noticed a decline in foreign language students.
“I think people are still interested in learning languages, but as languages are no longer compulsory at GCSE level, fewer children are opting to study a language. The way that people now want to learn languages has changed, with apps like Memrise and Duolingo luring many adults into learning a language in a fun, and more light-hearted way.
“Many university language departments have also closed or been reduced in the past decade, partly due to declining numbers of A level language students.
“As a profession, we are still seeing a large number of language graduates trying to enter the market, especially from other countries. At a time when we have pressures from AI and other language technologies, it can be very difficult for them to get started! We need specialist translators to meet demand for legal and medical areas in particular, and it’s hard for those starting out to get training and specialise.”
Concerns around disappearing bilingualism in England may mean that the teaching of English as a foreign language might become increasingly challenging. Languages schools are suspected to have to contend with a reduction in the number of expert teachers available to prep students from abroad for qualifications such as the IELTS exam.
Perhaps it is that the importance and benefits of learning a second language are going unnoticed by secondary school students.
Despite a prevailing belief amongst many UK residents that everyone speaks English, in actual fact 3.2 per cent of households in St Albans reported having no members who speak it as their main language in the 2021 Census.
That’s around 1,888 households in which English is either not spoken, or spoken solely as a second language.
Therefore, the acquisition of a second language other than English could have distinct benefits for the cultivation of the local community. EU languages (particularly Polish) and Bengali are prevalent in and around St Albans.
Knowledge of a language that is not English in any capacity might subsequently aid the development of interpersonal connections across the district, allowing for a richer understanding and appreciation of other cultures.
Learning a foreign language can also have the potential to safeguard against cognitive decline, improve attention, and encourage a higher cross-curricular aptitude, strengthening literacy, maths and science skills.
These characteristics are very much sought after by employers – and the ability to speak another language can produce a wider array of opportunities and higher salaries work-wise.
Fortunately, local attempts to combat further decline in the number of language-learners have been and will most likely continue to be put into place. Last month, The Marlborough Science Academy hosted an Interpreting event for Year 10 students, where three highly qualified interpreters and translators spoke about some potential uses of foreign language skills.
Furthermore, the University of Hertfordshire is reportedly set to introduce non-credit-bearing Beginners’ modules in a variety of European and Asian languages this September. These modules will allow students to pick up a new language for fun alongside their degree by attending weekly classes.
